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Laid-off and deprived employees of Grameenphone laid a siege to its head office in the capital on Tuesday, demanding the collection of a 5.0-per cent share of its profits and delay penalties.
Under the banner of the "Laid-off and Deprived Grameenphone Workers Unity Council", they gathered in front of the office and staged a demonstration to press home their demands.
At one stage of their protest rally, they besieged the office of the country's leading mobile phone operator.
As many as 200 former staff members of Grameenphone took part in the programme.
Addressing the rally, leaders of the workers' unity council urged the Grameenphone authorities to sit for a discussion to resolve the issue urgently.
"If our demands are not met, we'll go for a tougher movement," the council threatened.
Since December 2, 2024, laid-off workers of Grameenphone have been holding programmes to realise their three-point demands.
Speaking on the occasion, labour leaders said Grameenphone filed a writ petition in 2010 with the High Court, against the distribution of 5-per cent profit sharing with workers.
Abu Sadat Mohammad Shoyeb, convener of the council, said following a court ruling in 2014 and workers' movement, the company was forced to distribute part of its profits in 2015.
"However, the issue of delay penalties remains unresolved, as the company has prolonged the legal process using legal tactics, depriving the workers.
When the workers moved the court, Grameenphone withdrew the pending writ in 2023.
"Now, there are nearly 2,000 cases pending against Grameenphone in different courts on different charges. The authorities have been prolonging these cases for years, using legal maneuvers and influence," a press release reads.
Labour leaders said that since 2010 3300 permanent workers have been forced to leave their jobs due to unethical and inhumane processes exercised by a few officials and union leaders, who are accomplices of the autocratic Awami League government.
They allege that Grameenphone CEO Yasir Azman has been using the administration to indiscriminately lay off workers in the country's most profitable company, flouting the law with impunity.
They, however, accused the company of operating on a path of corruption, depriving workers, and evading billions of taka in government taxes.
Adeeba Zerin Chowdhury, communication secretary of the Grameenphone Union, said, "We call upon every beneficiary of the 5.0 per cent whether they are inside GP office, in different regions, or even no longer with GP to stand with us. This fight belongs to all of us."
Grameenphone CEO Azman said, “Some former employees of GP have been gathering in front of the GP House over the last few days, raising various demands relating to employment and benefits. To our knowledge, most of them separated from Grameenphone a long time ago and have received their lawful entitlements.
“Also, the demands that are being raised by these individuals are currently subject matters of various cases before the courts. Grameenphone has high regard for the judicial process. Therefore, any legal proceedings will eventually be resolved through the court systems.”