Talks fail to end weavers' strike

Narsinghdi, July 19 (bdnews24.com) – As the strike of weavers in Narsinghdi demanding improved employment conditions enters its seventh day on Monday, local Awami League leaders failed to negotiate an agreement between the workers and the power loom owners after meetings on Sunday.

The strike called by the Narsinghdi Textile Workers' Federation started last Tuesday in support of their 13 point charter of demands - including the provision of permanent contracts, weekly holidays, and a 20 per cent pay rise.

At least 25,000 looms in different parts of the district have stopped production due to the continuous strike.

Abdur Rahman, president of the district textile workers' federation, told bdnews24.com that the workers met the Awami League district leaders on Sunday night.

However a subsequent meeting between the party leaders and the power loom owners failed to reach any agreement.

Rahman said, "The district Awami League president Asduzzaman has discussed our demands with the owners, but failed to reach an agreement."

"So, our strike is continuing."

AK Fazlul Haque, president of the Narsinghdi Power Loom Owners' Association, told bdnews24.com, "The workers wages and bonus has been increased to Tk 1200 from Tk 600."

The general workers want to join the work, he said.

"But they are not being able to join as they are being threatened by miscreants guised as workers," he added.

On the other hand, workers are also demanding immediate release of arrested

co-workers, claiming that police arrested two men called Osman Miah and 'Soleman' on Sunday.

However the police only confessed to arresting Osman in relation to a case dealing with the vandalisation of vehicles during the road block on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway earlier on last Tuesday.

Narsighdi Sadar Model police chief Nazrul Islam told bdnews24.com that there are a number of previous charges against Osman.