Protesting Injustice: Grameenphone Workers Demand Reinstatement and Compensation
Dismissed workers of the country’s leading mobile operator, Grameenphone, have launched a three-day symbolic sit-in program, demanding reinstatement, full financial and social compensation, and accountability for their alleged unlawful termination. The protest began on Sunday in front of the GP House in Baridhara, near the entrance to the Bashundhara residential area, and will continue daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM until January 7.
On the first day of the protest, over a hundred dismissed Grameenphone employees and their families participated in the gathering. The workers called for the reinstatement of employees dismissed “illegally,” payment of all legal dues, and punitive action against officials involved in alleged worker mistreatment. They accused Grameenphone, one of the most profitable companies in Bangladesh, of violating labor laws for years. According to their claims, the company has forcibly terminated 3,300 employees through so-called voluntary retirement schemes and false allegations, while neglecting to pay workers’ profit shares, delay penalties, and rightful dues.
The protestors alleged that certain officials and union leaders, with backing from the “autocratic Awami government,” used unethical and inhumane methods to force employees out of their jobs. As a result, under the banner of the “Grameenphone Dismissed and Rights-Deprived Workers Unity Council,” they have been organizing protests since December 2, 2024.
At the assembly, Grameenphone’s Territory Manager, Md. Monowar Parvez, and Senior Executive, Md. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, delivered impassioned and emotional speeches. They claimed that, under the “fascist practices of the previous government,” even hospitalized employees were terminated from their jobs.
Labor leaders at the protest alleged that Grameenphone has consistently violated workers’ rights and ignored rulings by the Supreme Court. They accused the company of filing further legal cases to deprive workers of their just claims, thereby infringing on their fundamental human rights. Despite presenting itself at national and international levels as a socially responsible entity contributing to the economy and public welfare, Grameenphone, during what they called the “autocratic government’s regime,” reportedly terminated nearly 3,300 permanent employees through various coercive methods.
The protestors also accused prominent political figures, including Fazle Noor Taposh, Mustafa Jabbar, Tarana Halim, and Zunaid Palak, of being complicit in these actions. They claimed these individuals acted as “agents of the dictatorship” by enabling the company’s alleged violations. Despite being a profitable business, Grameenphone has reportedly jeopardized the livelihoods of 3,300 families through illegal terminations.
The workers demanded that the government form an investigation committee to probe these alleged injustices. The leaders announced their intention to continue the protest until their demands are met. As they concluded the day’s program, they reiterated their resolve to persist in their fight for justice and accountability.
