Saiful Islam 

Former Grameenphone employees who claim they were unfairly dismissed staged a protest rally in front of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, demanding payment of their outstanding dues accumulated over the past 16 years, protection of workers` rights, and proper implementation of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.

The demonstration was organized at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday (July 29) by the Grameenphone 5% Delayed Dues Recovery Unity Council. During the rally, speakers alleged that they had been deprived of their rightful dues for the past 16 years. They stated that despite conducting peaceful protests for many years, no effective solution has yet been reached.

Abu Sadat Mohammad Shoaib, a former Grameenphone employee and convener of the protest, alleged that workers involved in the movement had faced lawsuits, harassment, arrests, and various forms of obstruction, which he said violated their constitutional and labour rights.

Another coordinator of the movement, Mobasher Ahsan, also addressed the gathering. He said, "For the past 16 years, we have been deprived of our legitimate dues. During this prolonged struggle, we have already lost several of our colleagues. Many have died because they could not afford proper medical treatment. We seek the intervention of Honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to help bring an end to this long-standing injustice."

From the rally, the protesters called on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the BTRC to initiate dialogue on the workers` demands and reach a lawful and mutually acceptable resolution as soon as possible. They also urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Grameenphone authorities, and all relevant stakeholders to resolve the dispute through constructive discussions.

The speakers further called on workers across various industries, trade unions, and labour organizations throughout the country to unite in defending workers` rights and protecting the hard-earned benefits of employees.