Dragon Sweater Andolon

At a glance:

Dragon Sweater Andolon is a very recent event in Bangladesh and currently

happening in the country though it was stopped on 12 th October 2020 but again
started on 10th of November. The andolon started for workers’ rights such as
pending wages including basic, overtime, night bills etc. in a sweater factory
named Dragon Sweater and spinning ltd. On October 12, an agreement of
resolution was signed by the workers and owners along with Government and
BGMEA to meet up the demands of the workers which are:

 Payment of arrears
 Paying the money of provident fund, night bills
 Payment of job compensation
 Acquired Holiday money from 2018

Keeping all the above mentioned demands noted, the workers started their journey
the movement from March 2020. The following discussion will provide a vast idea
about the movement.

Company Profile:

(Here is the company profile at a glance which is mostly taken from the company
website which is http://dsslbd.com/ .Besides, some information are found from the
workers of DSSL)

Dragon Sweater and Spinning Ltd. Is one of the largest sweater and spinning
company in Bangladesh which is a Flagship company of Dragon Group? Dragon
group played a pioneer role in sweater industry of Bangladesh by starting the first
sweater project in Bangladesh in the early 80s with technical collaboration with
Hong Kong and china. At that time, it started its first sweater factory by the name
of CHEUNG HING Sweater in 1986 with 50 Chinese technicians, about 300

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machines and about 600 employees. Since then, this group has implanted the seeds
for the development of sweater industry of Bangladesh. This group directly
responsible for the establishment of the sweater industry in Bangladesh. In today’s
age, Bangladesh exports over $1.5 billion US dollars of sweaters and the country
employs nearly a million people in the sweater factory. (Reference: dssl
website) .The group’s chairman is Mostafa Golam kuddus.

The Dragon Sweater and Spinning Ltd. Is situated at 25/2 DIT road, Malibagh in
Dhaka city. The managing director of the company is Golam Mostafa Kuddus who
has previously been the president of Bangladesh garments manufacturer and
exporter association (BGMEA). He is also a member of Geneva Convention on
child labor committee. Additionally he is the chairman and main sponsor of Rupali
Insurance Company limited holding about 34.5% shares of this company with his
family members. He is known as OC kuddus too. He is a very experienced man in
business sector with his 25 years of experiences.

Another main character of this company is the chairman of this company, Mostafa
Quamrus Sobhan. He is the director of Rupali Insurance ltd, CD acrylic

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Bangladesh ltd and also associated with different chamber bodies like KBCCI,
BGCCI and CBCCI.

Along with them, there are other board members of this company who are Fauzia
Quamrus Tania (Director) , Mrs. Fazlatun Nessa (director) , Shafia Sobhan
Chowdhury(Director ), Tasnia Quamrun Anika(director),A.M. Saidur Rahman
(Independent Director ) , A.M. Jinnat Ali Mian (Independent Director) .

It is written in the company website that, “The company's vision and mission is to
become one of the leading sweater manufacturing and spinning industry in the
entire South East Asian region. Due to rising demand of goods produced from its
composite project the company plans to expand the spinning and sweater
manufacturing capacity to meet the rising demand of acrylic and other yarns from
the group itself and also to meet the demand of rising sweater industry of
Bangladesh.” (reff company website)

The company was incorporated as a private ltd. Company under the company’s act
1994 on 16th June 1999 at Chandul, Miah Bazar, Comilla, Bangladesh. Then it
converted into a public limited company on 1st January 2012.

The company is situated in Malibagh, in a17 storied building.

One of the major achievements of the andolon is a tripartite agreement as bellow:

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Though this agreement was signed on 12th October and this has been a month
with / without results…

(In this part there will be a short summery of the workers and what the company
do. topic: wages, salary, pictures of industry)

Some pictures of the company collected from the website:

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5
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Important Characters related to the Dragon Sweater andolon :

Name Position/ post in Contact number

Organization
Mostafa Golam Kuddus Managing Director,
DSSL
Abdul Kuddus Floor incharge,DSSL 01712352472
Romesa Akter Knitting Operator,DSSL 01781637514

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Sajal 01303696167
Iliyas Haydar Admin officer, DSSL 01818548898
Monjur Moin International affairs
secretary, GWTUC
Montu Ghosh Advocate,High Court
Joly talukder GS, GWTUC
Jahanara Begum Oldest worker, DSSL

At this point, Let me first provide a timeline on how it started and then I will
describe it in details:

Date Activity Result/ Decision

25th dec,2019 Workers filed a DIFE inspected and filed
complaint about salaries a case against the
being pending for 3 to 8 company.
months.
22nd march,2020 Workers demonstrated ot DSSL owners assured to
the factory gate for theirclear the payment and
pending salary for the workers went back to
last 5 months till march work leaving
2020 demonstration.
5th May,2020 A worker named Uzzal Workers created a
said to ZoomBangla.net blockade on the road in
that DSSL owner front of the company.
Mostafa Golam Kuddus Kuddus Fakir, OC of
refused to pay the wages. Rampura Thana notified
BGMEA about the
situation.
11th June,2020 Demonstration of the Workers of DSSL

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 DSSL workers in front of decided to continue the
Sromo Vobon, events until they get their
BijoyNagar, Dhaka. demands met up.
GWTUC came in the
frontline to help the
workers get justice.
27th June,2020 ICL stands in Solidarity ICL demands that the
with The Factory workers are reinstated
workers. and that all wages are
paid.
3rd July,2020 Workers surrounds DIFE Workers assemble infront
building. of the main gate of DIFE
building from 12pm.
They presented a
memorandum to Jakir
Hossain whois the
Deputy inspector general
of DIFE.
3rd July, 2020 Solidarity from the Free Workers’ Union
Hamburg, Germany (FAU) in Hamburg
rallied in front of a New
Yorker store in the city
center.
350 leaflets were
distributed to the
customers who came to
or just left the NEW
YORKER store.

16th july, 2020 New Yorker blacklisted FAU contacted the

DSSL headquarter in
Braunschweig (Germany)
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 asking them to increase
the pressure on the
Dragon Group and get
directly in touch with
GWTUC.

A rally was held in front

of a New Yorker Store in
Hamburg.

The brand responded to

the email sent by the
FAU Hamburg saying
that under the current
circumstances Dragon
Group as a whole
disqualified itself from
any future collaboration
with New Yorker.
Various labor unions
such as the CNT (Spain),
FORA (Argentina), FOB
(Brazil) and Industrial
Workers of the World
(IWW) Ireland already
confirmed to join the
fight with DSSL workers.
18th july, 2020 Solidarity from Freiburg Around 20 people
to Dhaka gathered in Freiburg
(Germany) for a
solidarity action

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 The protest took place in
front of a „New Yorker”
store, which sell the
clothes produced by
dragon sweater
FAU and Die Linke
arranged this assembly.
29th August, 2020 DSSL workers Thanks Workers organized with
the organizations who the Garment Workers’
stood in solidarity with Trade Union Center
them all over the world. (GWTUC) in Dhaka
expressed their gratitude
towards the workers and
unions in other parts of
the world who stand in
solidarity with them.
29th Aug,2020 Meeting of the worker A decision was taken to
leaders ith GWTUC sit for strike from 31st
members. August,2020 in front of
DIFE building , BGMEA
and in front of DSSL
owners house.
( Announced by
GWTUC)
6th September,2020 Press conference Joly Talukder called for
strike again from 7th
September,2020 in front
of Sromo Vobon.

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7th September,2020 Jharu Michil (procession Started from DIFE
with broom) building and headed
towards DSSL owners
house.
9th September , 2020 Tripartite meeting Crisis Management
center calls, rejected by
Owner.
Workers decides for
striking again from the
next day.
10th September, 2020 Demonstration Starts with the leadership
of Monjur Moin from
national press club to the
company area, Malibag,
Dhaka.
11th September , 2020 Press conference held by Mostafa Golam Kuddus
the Owner of DSSL . says, a section of workers
and their leaders are
trying to tarnish the
company’s image, both at
home and abroad.

Workers bound a
timeline that before 13th
of September, their
demands should be met.

“Every worker deserves

legal payment by the
employer. So Quddus
should pay his workers

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 and staff properly,” Joly
Talukder told The Daily
Star.
17th September ,2020 Workers tried to siege Police interrupted the
Sromo Montronaloy. siege program held by
the workers.

Police and workers

scuffled at link road,
Dhaka.
Workers demanded for
arresting Owner.

Workers decided to
arrange a hunger strike
infront of Gonovobon.
4th October ,2020 Goons attacked. Goons attacked the
Workers assembled workers in Malibag .
Moshal michil Goons snatched their
( procession with Torch) banners and festoons.

12 workers were injured

and taken to DMCH.

Police arrested one of the

goons.

Workers did procession

and gave memorandum
DMP commissioner.

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 Workers Did moshal
michil in the evening.
5th October , 2020 Demonstration outside Workers organizers
Bangladesh protested with banners in
front of 18 showrooms
including Hamburg,
Germany.
12th October ,2020 Mutual Agreement Agreement of resolution
signed by owners,
Government, BGMEA
and Workers Leader.
11th November,2020 Assembly infront of Workers gathered infront
sromo vobon of the National pressclub
and decided to resume
their andolon as the
owner did not pay the
forst installment.
They moved towards
sromo vobon from
National pressclub area
on foot.
They assembled in front
of sromo vobon and
decided to stay as many
of the days it requires to
get their demands.
Farzana karim from
sromo vobon came to the
spot and asked the
workers to take 10% of
their dues as the owner is

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 offering 10%.
Workers did not agree
with 10% as they had
already left 70% of their
dues and agreed with
30% before
15th November, 2020 Meeting with the owner, Worker leaders along
Sromo vobon gherao. with CPB and DIFE
officers went for a
meeting at 12.30pm with
the owner of DSSL
Mostafa Golamkuddus

Kuddus refused to pay

the wages and gives a list
of 87/89 workers to
whome he will give the
money only. Refused to
pay the production sector
workers.

The worker Leader

Abdul kuddus called for
a siege program to be
held at sromo vobon so
that the owner can not
leave without paying
their money

Second meeting of the

day happened in the

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 afternoon. The owner
asked them all to come to
that place on 18th of
November and collect
their wages.

18th November 2020 Workers waited at the Workers got ready to

Sromo vobon, Owner did have their demnds
not show up. met,they started waiting
both at the muktivobon
and sromo vobon. The
worker leaders were at
the sromo vobon.

The owner did not show

up the whole day . When
DIFE officers contacted
with him, he said that as
they(DIFE) can not
provide security,he wont
be goingto them
anymore. He will directly
meet at the Sochibaloy.

Workers decided to meet

the Sromo Protimontri
and if she fails, they
would meet the prime
minister even.

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The movement in details:

The Dragon sweater andolon is a movement for workers’ demands, demands to get
their dues, to get their regular salary in time. To stop the injustice that has been
happening for a very long time. The workers of dragon factory started a strike this
year (2020) starting from March 22 though previously in 25 th Dec, 2019, they took
a step against the injustice that had been happening. Some of the workers did
complaint about the injustice to DIFE and DIFE inspected about it. They filed a
case against the company .At that time the workers had 3 to 8 months of salaries
pending. When they started their andolon in March, many of them had 3 months of
salaries unpaid, some had 5 months and the corporate officers had 10 months of
salaries unpaid. They described the following things that had been happening over
the years:

 Workers do not get payment for months (gets salaries after 3 to 4months)
 They do not get their leaves, have to work on holidays.
 If any worker talks about the injustice, his/ her ID card is snatched and s/he
is dismissed from the company forcefully.
 Workers do not get their basics salary in time. Also Service benefit,
Provident fund, acquired leaves and dues were never paid, not even after
their dismissal in March.
 Pregnant ladies are dismissed from their job.
 Many are dismissed from their jobs without any notice and payment.

According to Abdul Kuddus, an ex-worker and floor in charge of the Dragon

sweater company, the scenario in the DSSL is following:

When Abdul Kuddus joined the factory in 2002, the factory was really good going.
A lot number of workers were there (approximately 4-6 thousand). Still the
workers had to work all day long without any rest. Sometimes they had to works
for 24 hours too. Their acquired holiday was on Friday but they used to work on
Fridays too. They didn’t get their holidays, didn’t get the payment of working on

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holidays. Also they were not given their overtime bills. Even if they worked at
night, they didn’t ever get the night bills. Sometimes they didn’t get a leave on Eid
days, even worked on the Eid days and never got bonus.

With all these identified problems, they used to go to the owner of the company
but he didn’t ever allow to meet up their needs. The owner used to keep their
salary pending for 3-5 months which varies from employee to employee. As an
example, corporate stuffs sometimes didn’t get their dues for up to 10 months.

When the workers started to complain about these, the owner became furious about
all these and used to shout on them, torture them physically even.

The owner of the factory, Mostafa Golam Kuddus, never obeyed the labor law of
Bangladesh. He was adamant that his factory will only follow his rules, not any
government rules.

When the workers were continuously facing the injustice, there started creating a
gap between the two parties, the owner and the workers.

In 2017, the workers asked for bonus and the owner refused to give that. At that
time, he forcefully kept Abdul kuddus (manager) and Moni (floor in charge) inside
the factory all day long with the help of security guards. The next day when the
workers came to know about this, they directly went to the chairman and the
chairman of the company agreed to their demand of getting bonus. He assured that
the workers will get a bonus amount on Eid that will be half amount of the basics
they used to get.

After that, the main problem started to rise between the workers and owners of the
company. The owners started to make the salary pending for months. On
December, 2019, most of the dragon workers had 5 to 6months salary pending. On
behalf of the workers, some managers, supervisors and operators went to ask for
the pending salaries. The owner counted this as a crime and kicked them out
without any notice and also without any salary. They never got any explanation

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about why they lost their jobs. Though the owners paid the other workers’ salaries
but didn’t give them their lawful dues.

This year, in March 2020, on 25th, the HR manager told them that because of
COVID-19, the whole country is going for a lockdown and the factories will
remain off until further notice from government. At one point, in April 2020, all
the factories reopened but Dragon did not. By asking the HR about re opening the
factory, the workers got to know that it’s off for an indefinite period. If it’s
reopened, he (HR manager) will inform the workers.

But in the month of May 2020, the workers got to know that the factory was
reopened with new workers who were paid 300-400 taka per day. The older
workers who had been working in the factories for 15-20 years, got really hurt
knowing this. The got freckles on their forehead and got really worried about their
own livelihood as they suddenly lost their jobs, also without payment. They
arranged a meeting with the owners where they asked the owners to keep them in
the factory as they were working for a long period of time and they really want to
work. The owners then offered them saying that he is shifting their company to
Comilla, so whoever wishes, they can join the factory in Comilla. Many of the
workers refused at this proposal as Comilla is far away from Dhaka city and it’s
impossible for them to work there. Then the owners said that whoever agrees to go
to Comilla, can go, whoever cannot shift there, they will be paid their dues off but
time went by. Neither had they got the pending salaries, nor the lawful dues. At
some point, the owner refused to pay the dues and this made the workers give a
memorandum to DIFE, DMG Commissioner, and Industrial Police and to
Hatirjheel police. They filed a complaint about it and raised their demands to them.
At that time the workers had 3-4 months of salary pending, stuffs had 5-6 months
of salary pending and the corporate officers had 10 months of salaries pending. So
they started going here and there for meeting up their lawful demands. Started
protesting and processions and different events to meet up their demands.
(Reference of the talk show)

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(Stories from the newspaper clips)

On November 2019, a news portal named Sara Bangla. Net published a news
regarding the dragon Sweater factory with a headline “আইন মানে না ড্রাগন সোয়েটার,
পাওনা চাইলে চাকরি যায় শ্রমিকের” They wrote about the injustice that the workers
were facing at that time. It was written in the news that the workers from different
sectors and levels, had their salary unpaid from 3 to 8 months back in November.
Because of which the workers were unsatisfied and many of them were struggling
to live a full mouth. They had complaints about the owner of the company that
their salaries were not paid off and also the workers said that whenever they went
to ask for the money they were banished from their job. Also they said that the
factory did not pay any heed to the labor law of Bangladesh. But the owner of the
company refused about all the allegations. DIFE inspected the company and found
that the allegations were right and they filed a case against the company. When
Sara Bangla tried to contact the company chairman, Quamrus Sobhan, he said that
all the allegations were fake.

Sara Bangla took interviews of several workers who lost their job. A floor manager
of DSSL said them, “I have been working here since 11 years. Lost my job on nov
16. Still I have my salaries of Oct and nov unpaid. They gave us time to pay our
wages three to four times. But did not pay. Now we are helpless”

Another knitting operator named Shahin said, “Lost my job since two weeks. We
were about to get the basic though the factory has no work now. But they were not
providing the basic. But when we went to talk about it, they fired four person from
the job including me. Every month the factory has salary related issues”

One worker who is still working at the factory hid his name and said that, “our
situation is very poor. Haven’t got the salary of October and November.

From another worker, Sarabangla got to know that till the month of November,
around 21 workers lost their job with maintaining the labor law, they were not

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given any notice. Stuffs had 7 months of salary unpaid where production level
workers had 3 to 5 months of salary pending.

They fired a worker named Nazmul as he was trying to open a TU for the workers’
rights. (Reference: news num 1)

After that, months passed and the new year of 2020 came. Still the dragon factory
workers did not get their unpaid wages. After about 4months of the last event, in
March 22 the workers of DSSL started a strike for their money, the unpaid salary
they had. The workers approached for a road strike at the DIT, Malibagh area of
the capital Dhaka. They sat there for their demands and continued demonstration
from around 2pm at noon. The demonstration took place with a view to getting
their unpaid salaries. (ref : vorer kagoj,news num 2)

According to police and workers of DSSL, their demand is to get their 5 months of
salaries till March 2020. At the time of demonstration they blocked the road so that
no transport could pass.

After that, police came and got the situation under control. Then the police of
Hatirjheel thana talked to the owner party of the factory and made them agree to
pay the wages. With that condition, the workers stopped the demonstration and got
back to the work at the factory. They were more than hundreds in number. (Ref:
news num \3)

Again after the demonstration, months passed. It was the time of May 5 when the
workers of DSSL again started for a movement. The reason was the same as
before, unpaid salary. On 5th may 2020, the owner of the factory, Mostafa Golam
Kuddus refused to pay any dues to the workers. For that reason, the workers again
started for a movement from10amof the day. A Worker named Ujjal said to Zoom
Bangla, “owner said that he is unable to pay the dues, so here we are at the streets”
(ref:: news num4)

For their demonstration on the day may 5, the DIT road became crowded and no
transport could pass by the road. It caused heavy traffic jam. Police tried to take the

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situation under control but couldn’t. In this regard, Kuddus Fakir (OC of Rampura
thana) said that, “we are trying to solve the issue by consulting both with the
owners and the workers”.(ref: news 5)

With a view to continue their movement regarding their demands of dues, the
DSSL workers started running from here to there in search of justice, in search of
help. Their next activity took place on 11 th of June. The workers started a strike in
front of the labor ministry. The demonstration took place on June 11th as
continuance and escalation of the previous massive and militant protests against
the unacceptable practices of the company.  The WFTU members were in the
frontline of the struggles of the workers. They, along with the leaders of the
workers, lead the movement to a condition where there’s no going back without
getting their wages back. (Ref: news 7)

The DSSL works for big bands like H&M, Zara, New Yorker, Lidl, Primark and
Woolworth.(ref: news 8)

According to ICL, the COVID-19 pandemic is being used to trample on the lives
of thousands of garments workers. So is in DSSL. ICL was being told that the
factory was going to be shifted in Comilla but still with lower wages. Also, the
company owns have got several stimulus packages from the government to
alleviate the effects of the pandemic. If they wished for, they could also use a
portion of the money for the unpaid workers.

Thinking about all the things and situations, ICL stood in solidarity for the
dismissed workers and their demands about their pending wages. Their comrades
from the local anarchist network AURAJ also supported the struggle of the DSSL
workers. (ref: news 7)

In continuation to the movement, the workers surrounded labour ministry on 3 rd of

July. At first they hold an assembly there and then constructed a siege program.
After that they had presented a memorandum to Zakir Hossain, the Deputy
Manager General regarding activity. They stopped their siege program once Zakir
Hossain assured them that he will help them get their wages. On that assembly,

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Monjur Moin (GWTUC), Faruk Hossain (worker leader), Shah Alam and many
other gave speeches.

On the speeches, the speakers talked about various injustice that had been
happening in the factory from many years. They talked about ill treatment, dues,
excessive work pressure, ill payment, and no vacation or overtime etc. thing that
had been happened.

They also said that the factory regularly does not pay for three to four months and
never pay overtime and night bills too.

On the day, the leaders then said that, “If the dismissals are not immediately
reinstated and the labor laws are not implemented in the factories, the workers will
be forced to go on strike.” (Ref: news 8)

On the same day ICL published an article named “dragon group tries to silent
protests”. ICL Asia working group received a complaint letter from the factory
management after they had announced their solidarity with the workers. ICL wrote
in the article that the time the manager of DSSL took to write to them could be
used in engaging with GWTUC and addressing worker’s demands and concerns.
At the same time, if the factory was concerned about the reputation of the factory
being tarnished and if they wanted to prevent further disrepute, it was a very
simple action to answer workers’ demands. (Ref: news num 9)

In Hamburg:

While the management of the Dragon Sweater factory reaches out to labor unions

with a statement to defame GWTUC on the international level, the Free Workers’
Union (FAU) in Hamburg rallied in front of a New Yorker store in the city center
to stand in solidarity with the garment workers.
Workers on the ground confirmed that many of the last garments at Dragon
Sweater were being produced for New Yorker.

On that event, 350 leaflets were distributed. Many of them went to the people who
was about to go on a store in Hamburg or to leave the store. During the time, a

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recorded message from SADAAT(GWTUC) was played several times. Along with
these, the store manager of the NEW Yorker was informed about the ongoing
struggles that the workers in Bangladesh was going through and was provided
contacts of GWTUC. She was asked to forward the demands to the new Yorkers
headquarters in Braunschweig. (ref: news 9.1)

FAU asked to increase pressure on DSSL BD and asked to contact directly with
GWTUC. After that, on July 16, the New Yorker blacklisted DSSl and asked
GWTUC to update them about the further movements. (ref 9.2)

Not only the workers of DSSL got support from Hamburg, the struggles of the
garments workers reached Freiburg, Germany as well. On the date of 18 th July,
Around 20 people gathered in Freiburg (Germany) for a solidarity action with the
struggle of garment workers of dragon sweater factory in Dhaka. The protest took
place in front of a „New Yorker” store, which sell the clothes produced by dragon
sweater. Members of anarcho-syndicalist union FAU, feminist organizations and
socialist party „Die Linke” demanded the management of New Yorker to force
their business partner dragon sweater to pay & rehire the workers, and also to
respect the right to unionize. This assembly of people took place in front of a New
Yorker store in Freiburg. (ref: news 11)

On August 27, the workers along with GWTUC sat for a meeting to decide about
the next steps of their protest. As the owners were not paying any heed too their
demands, they decided to take on the streets again on upcoming dates then. Also
demonstrated their solidarity with the labor organizations and unions of ICL and
the Global May day initiative who have been tirelessly demonstrating in support in
Ireland, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and other areas.(news 13)

On Aug 29, the Workers organized with the Garment Workers’ Trade Union
Center (GWTUC) in Dhaka expressed their gratitude towards the workers and
unions in other parts of the world who stand in solidarity with them. They also
hold a meeting for deciding next steps and decided to take the roads again. When
and where was to be confirmed then. (News 15)

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On another news portal named Bangla Tribune, it was published that the workers
had decided to assemble continuously in front of the labor ministry until their
demands are met. They are going to hold this protest from August 31, 2020. This
event was announced on a Press Conference that took place in CPB .in that press
conference, Joly talukder (GS of GWTUC), Amir Hamza, Monjur Moin and many
more were present. (news 16)

On the time, it was found that the owner of DSSL was running a limited range of
production with temporary workers on a contract basis in the name of a different
factory in the same building excluding permanent workers. And the workers were
living a dehumanized life.
It was announced that during the continuous program, siege of the owner's
residence, siege of BGMEA and hunger procession towards Gono bhaban will be
observed. (ref 18)
On 6th of September a press conference was held and Joly talukder announced that
the workers were again going for protest from 7th of September. On the conference,
it was said that the owner 0f DSSL was wasting time in the name of consultation
and they also had deceptive behavior. For that reason, the workers will go on
protest from 7th of September and He will start the continuous sit-in program at
Shram Bhaban in Vijay Nagar from 10 am. The procession will start from Shram
Bhaban in Vijay Nagar at 12 noon to surround the house of the owner of Dragon
Sweater Factory at Gulshan-2.
(news 19)
On Wednesday (September 9), a tripartite meeting was held at the call of the Crisis
Management Committee of the Ministry of Labor to resolve the crisis of the
Dragon Group workers. But the owners boycotted the meeting and the talks ended
without any agreement. For that, the workers held a meeting at CPB and they
called for a demonstration in front of national press club and further they will head
towards DIFE building and assemble there.
The meeting was chaired by Aminul Haque, Chairman, Crisis Management
Committee, Ministry of Labor and Director, Department of Labor. Advocate
Montu Ghosh, President, Garment Workers Trade Union Center, Naimul Ahsan
Jewel, General Secretary, Jatiya Sramik Jot Bangladesh

25
(news 20)
Jharu michil:
The DSSl workers held a Jharu michil on seot 7. They started the procession with a
broom from Sromo Vobon. When the procession left for Gulshan around 12:30
pm, the police stopped them. At that time the workers sat on the street in front of
the labor building. Later again they were found assemble with a jharu in front of
the labor building. (21)
Jahangir Alam, president of the organization, said the workers had sworn in
responsible government departments for months but their problems had not been
resolved. That’s why they had started the demonstration with a jharu on the day.
(Ref: news 22)

(Significance of jharu michil in Bangladeshi context)

On September 10, the workers again reunited in front of national press club and
formed a procession and also demonstrated. The workers, led by Monjur Moin,
international affairs secretary at the Garments Trade Union Center, demanded
immediate payment of their arrears.
Abdul Kuddus, a floor manager and workers leader of DSSl said, “The role of the
mill authorities and the police administration does not seem to represent the
government. Feels like they represent the owners”
In this regard, Monjur Moin says that the workers’ demands are lawful. They
should get their rights.
Latterly, they take the procession towards the factory at Malibag. (News 23)
On 11th of September, news portal says that the stubborn workers has led the
owners to a point where they are behaving in a submissive way. The owners then
agreed to meet up all their needs according to the labor law. Even the owner has
agreed to sit for a meeting but with a condition that only the DIFE personals and
worker leaders will be present with them. No other one is allowed. (news 24)
On the same day, the owner of Dragon group said that no worker was dismissed
illegally. They have said thus in a press conference on that day. Mostafa golam
kuddus said that in his company, many workers were not working for 5 months.
But all their wages were paid off. They have no dues left. Others have joined the

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factory back and who had not joined yet, their positions were emptied so they took
new workers in the positions.
The workers gave an ultimatum to the owners to meet up the demands ASAP. An
worker leader Shamim said, “As dragon owner Mostafa Golam Quddus is the first
president of BGMEA, BGMEA has taken the role of ‘ধরি মাছ না ছুঁ ই পানি’ in
resolving this crisis of workers. (news 25)
On 17th September, the workers demonstrated in front of the Sochibaloy and they
went for a siege program at the place. Firstly they assembled in front of the press
club and then moved towards the socibaloy. While they reached link road, police
interrupted the event and the workers and police got into a fight. After the
interruption by the police, the workers sat in front of the sochibaloy and demanded
for arresting Mostafa Golam kuddus. They also decided for their next step, On
Sunday, September 20, a hunger strike of workers will be held towards
Ganobhaban. (news 26)
UnitedAgainstTheDragon: Bicycle Rally in Dresden
In solidarity with the workers dozens of people joined tour De classic – a bicycle
rally in Dresden. They stopped at three Lidl and two New Yorker stores in the city.
The tour was organized by the local syndicate of the Free Workers’ Union (FAU).
(news 27)
Goons Attack
On October 05, the workers were attacked by goons. On the day, the workers
formed a human chain at mailbag DIT road where goons attacked them. 12 of them
got injured and taken to DMCH for treatment. Also, sexual harassment of women
workers also were done.
At that time, police of Hatirjheel thana was present who caught one of the goons.
After that, the workers found the owner responsible for the attack and started
demonstrating.
The workers presented a memorandum to DMP and started a rally towards it on
about 11 am.
In protest to the attack, they held torch procession in the evening. (news 28)

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After the attack, the DSSL company owners did not stop but fired cases against the
workers. According to the workers, the cases were done to humiliate them and
harass them only.
On 5th of October, Admin officer Mahbubur Rahman filed the case against 16
workers of DSSL including Abdul kuddus, Shukkur chowdhuri, faruk Hossain and
many more. In the case, its written that the alleged workers bumped into the
Factory with weapons and injured other workers in the factory on 4th oct. Also its
written that the alleged workers broke into the factory gate and harmed the factory
gate and reception. Inreply to that, abdul kuddus has asked for checking the cctv
footage at the factory gate. (news 28)
On 12th of October, Factory owners and workers went for a mutual agreement
inpresence of Shibnath Roy( DIFE) and decided that the company will pay half of
the dues to the workers in four installments . the installments will be clered by dec.
about the case filed against the workers, Mostafa golamkuddus said that he will not
dismiss the case so that the workers can not do any more problem. (news 29)

(agreement paperphoto)

After the agreement was signed the workers did no take any more steps to get their
rights but they were waiting for the first installation money to be paid on nov 7. No
fudrthue events found and no other news were by any portals. Day after day, the
day of first intallments came. On the day, the workers along with the leaders were
waiting for their money to be received but the owner refiused to pay the money on
7th November. Workers broke into disappointments and they burst into anger.
I got to contact with the workers leader Abdul Kudddus and also with Romesa
Akhter (female worker). I had called Arifur Rahman from a facebook page (amar
sromamar lorai) for the contact number of Romesa Akter and Abdul kuddus. The
facebook page went live on the Dragon Sweater issue on the date of 11th October
with Kanak Barman, Joly Talukder, Abdul kuddus. For that reason I called the
page admin Arifur Rahman for the contact number. He passed me to kanak
Barmanwho gave me the contact details of Abdul kuddus and Romesa Akhter.
I got to talk to Romesa akter on 9th November and took her appointment to meet
her on 0th November.on the appointed day went to met her but got to know in the

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morning that the DSSL movement is resuming as the owner did not pay the first
installment.
10th November: abdul kuddus called an assembly infront of nationalpressclub at
12pm . there he announced the next program tobe held at the sromovobon. The
workers mrallied towards SromoVobon and reached there at around 1pm. Thee
they held a whole day program and assembled the whole day. Their program
started with a speech given by Abdulkuddus which allowed to know the objective
of resuming the movement. At first he read the agreement paperloud and clear and
asked all the workers to sit back and hold on for their movement. They chose
Sromo vobon for helping them to meet uptheir demands as the sgreement was
signed here and witnessed the mutual agreementto be signed.
All day different persons including Monjur Moin,Iliyas Hayar,Shukkur
Chowdhury Romesa Akhter gave speeches and kept asking for jstice. At
noon,farjana karim from the Sromo vobon came down from the building and asked
the workers to move back and leave their demands. She asked the workers to
accept whatever the owner is offering which is 10 percent of the total due. The
workers did not agree to her and became angry on her too. The assemble tookplace
till6pm of the day and with a promise of continuation.
The same event took place till 12 th of November with zero results.Meanwhile
abdul kuddus was trying to meet sromo protimontri at the sochibaloy. He got to
meet hmon 12th of November.the Sromo Protimontri took his words intoaccount an
called Mostafa Golamkuddus over phone. Asked him to meet up the demands
ASAP. Hearing him,Mostafa Golamkuddus agreed to meet upthedemands and
fixed a date to have a meeting with the leaders on 15th November at sromo vobon.
The peopleand the workers then started waiting for 15th November to come as it
was the only thing they coud dotoget their lawful wages.
15th November: It was previously decided that on 15th of November the worers will
go to the Sromo vobon at bijoynogor. But in the morning time of 15 november,
Abdul kuddus asked all of the workers to be at the Muktivobon while he would be
going for a meeting with the factory owner at sromo vobon. The meeting time was
12.30 pm. Before leaving Muktivobon, Abdulkuddus asked all the workers to sit
and wait for the decision. If Owner agrees to pay the dues, they would not need to
go to the Sromo vobon but if the owner doesn’t agree, they would siege sromo
vobon.

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Abdul kuddus, along with Monjur Moin, Montu Ghosh and Sajal went for the
meeting. The meeting started at around 1pm at sromo vobon while all the other
workers were sitting and waiting at mukti vobon. The meeting ended after around
one hour and the owner of the Dragon group refused to pay the amount he
promised to him at the agreement. He made a list of only 87/89 worker where there
were 350 unpaid workers in total. So, abdul kuddus, decided to call a siege
program and all the woekers rushed into sromo vobon from mukti vobon.
Afterreaching Sromo vobon, abdul kuddus gave a speech about what the wner said
at the meeting that he will pay only to the 87/89 workers, and also said that they
will be going for a siege program. Hearing this, all the workers sorounded
sromovobon and seiged the whole of it. They were not alloewing anyoneto go
inside or to come outside. The owner of the company was inside of the building
and workers decided that they will not let him leave until they get their money. The
whole day passed like this. In the afternoon officers from sromo vobon came
down and asked the worker leaders to join for another meeting. Abdul kuddus went
for it and after about one hour he came down.
All the workers sorriunded himto hear what happened . then Abdul kuddus said
that the owner agreed to provide what was decided to give in the agreement paper.
He asked everybody to go back to their home and come back on
Wednesday,18november at pmto collect their money. Hearing this some of the
workers seemed to be happy but most of them seemed worried as they could never
trust the owner again.
18 November:
Ataround 2pm,there was ameeting to be held at the sromo vobon with the worker
leaders and the owner group . for the meeting, people started coming at around
1.30pm. Montu ghosh, Monjur Moin, Joly talukder arrived for the meeting. Abdul
kuddus suggested the workers to go to the muktivobon with a fear that the owner
would not come if he gets to know that there are a lot of workers and he might feel
threatened to come. Most of the workers who was present at the sromo vobon
obeyed him and started for muktivobon.
The meeting started without the owner as all the other people were waiting for the
owner to come. But time passed by,he did not come. The workers had waited for
himthe whole day where the officers from sromo vbon tried tocontact him. In the
afternoon, they could contact the owner and the owner refused to come at the
vnue. He said that the people insromo vobon are unableto protect him that is why

30
he will only talk infront of the Sromo Montri . he will not come to sromo vobon
anymore.
When abdul kuddus came downand told the people about it,they burst into anger.
Abdul kuddus then announced about their next step that would be to go to the
sromo montri.and In case Sromo montri fails to provide justice to them,they willgo
for the Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.
Abduluddus also let the workers know that he was going toget a date for a meeting
with sromomontri in that evening, at around 6pm.

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