Sramik Shakti, the labour wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has expressed solidarity with garment workers’ ongoing movement for higher wages, demanding the resignation of the Labour Minister and the announcement of a new wage structure within three days.

The demands were announced by the organisation’s leaders at a press conference held on Tuesday in front of the NCP office in Bangla Motor, Dhaka.

Those present included NCP Political Council member and Member of Parliament Abdul Hannan Masud, Sramik Shakti Convener Mazharul Islam Fakir, Member Secretary Riyaz Morshed, Chief Organiser Arman Hossain and other central leaders.

Speaking at the press conference, Mazharul Islam Fakir alleged that the BNP government had spent nine months rehabilitating members of the Awami League and sharing the benefits of the garment waste and scrap-trading business with them. He criticised the government for now alleging Awami League involvement in the workers’ movement.

Fakir claimed that any infiltration by Awami League members into the workers’ spontaneous movement was the government’s responsibility.

Abdul Hannan Masud alleged that the wage board had been politicised through the appointment of people affiliated with the ruling party. He said workers were not accepting the board’s composition and blamed the government’s immature decisions for escalating the unrest.

He stressed that workers’ wages must be increased in line with market conditions to protect the country’s industrial sector.

Masud further alleged that garment workers were being attacked in different areas with the joint backing of BNP activists and police.

He warned that continued repression could turn the workers’ movement into a much broader campaign and give it a different character.