Hall-Mark RMG units closed

Hall-Mark authorities closed its all readymade garment units for three days following workers' demonstrations demanding arrears.

Police said the controversial business group came up with the decision as the factories do not have any work orders right now and more than 35,000 workers have been demonstrating for their due payments.

Talking to The Daily Star, Md Moniruzzaman, a deputy director of Industrial Police, said the group's around 60 factories in Savar were closed.

A government appointed committee headed by a joint secretary for running the apparel units of the group said the workers will be paid their due salaries by next Thursday.

The government has appointed the committee following the arrest of Hall-Mark Group Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud and its General Manager Tushar Ahmed in connection with Sonali Bank loan scam.

Earlier on Sunday, at least 50 people were injured as the workers clashed with the police demanding their due salaries.

The injured were admitted to local hospitals while the Hall-Mark authorities shut the factories for the day.

The agitators said the authorities did not fulfill their commitment to pay the two month's due salary of the employees on October 7.

They said their landlords were asking them to leave while shopkeepers were not selling anything on credit.

The Hall-Mark bosses were arrested on a request from Anti-Corruption Commission, which filed 11 cases with Ramna Police Station on October 4 against 27 officials of Hall-Mark and state-owned Sonali Bank for misappropriating Tk 1,568 crore.