Grameenphone Workers Protest Alleged Unpaid Dues and Unfair Dismissals
Following months of demonstrations outside GP House, the Grameenphone Sramik Oikya Parishad—a platform representing dismissed and aggrieved employees—held a press conference on Tuesday at the Abdus Salam Hall (West Block), National Press Club in Dhaka, demanding payment of their dues.
At the press conference, the organization accused Grameenphone Limited of systematically violating labor laws by withholding legally mandated payments from the Participation Fund and Welfare Fund, along with penalties for delayed disbursement. They alleged that the company was attempting to misappropriate these funds through deliberate non-compliance.
Reading out a written statement, Abu Sadat Md. Shoeb, the convener of the dismissed and aggrieved workers' platform, demanded the annulment of termination orders, reinstatement with compensation, payment of all outstanding dues, including a 5% dividend share from 2009–2012 with penalty for late disbursement, and punitive action against Grameenphone’s CEO, CMO, and their associates, including managers and union leaders accused of suppressing workers' rights.
The event was attended by former territory managers and committee members, including Monowar Parvez, Kamrul Hasan Sumon, Azhar Uddin, and Mosammat Muntaha, who also spoke at the gathering.
According to the protesters, approximately 180 employees were dismissed in 2012 for attempting to form a trade union. Since 2015, a so-called "voluntary retirement scheme" was introduced, which they claim forced employees to resign under pressure and threats. They further alleged that in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Grameenphone ignored government directives and dismissed another 180 workers.
Shoeb stated, "For the past 15 years, cases have been deliberately kept pending to deprive workers of their legal entitlements. Despite branding itself as a law-abiding organization, the operator is systematically violating labor laws to exploit its employees. The company's disregard for workers' rights and its continuous breach of labor laws are only increasing." He added that the number of permanent employees at Grameenphone had declined by 70% over the past decade, now standing at just 1,200, with many forced into so-called voluntary retirement under duress and deprived of their legal rights.
In response, Grameenphone stated,“For the last couple of months, some former employees of GP have been gathering in front of the GPHouse, 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 Hon'ble courts. Grameenphone has high regard for the judicial system. Therefore, any legal proceedings will eventually be resolved through the court proceedings."
The company further claimed, "While Grameenphone respects the right of peaceful association, these individuals illegally blocked the entry and exit ways of GP premises on several days. They also did the same on February 4, 2025, causing significant hindrance to the free movement of GP employees, suppliers and customers, keeping them stranded inside the office throughout the day until midnight. This has taken a toll on their health, with some employees falling sick. Grameenphone respects the law of the land and considers the safety and security of its employees and customers its highest priority. Law enforcement agencies deployed themselves around GP premises to protect individuals and property.
It has also come to our attention that these individuals are spreading misleading information about Grameenphone in media and in social media."
