Thousands of Bangladeshi female workers, working for a readymade garments factory in Jordan, have claimed to be suffering from acute sense of insecurity, raising allegations that 23-24 of their colleagues have gone 'missing' over the last one year.
The workers also alleged that the Indian owner of 'Classic Fashion' and the Bangladeshi authorities there are tied to the 'disappearances' and 'killings'. The female workers are also unable to return home as their passports have been taken by the owners.
After failing to elicit positive response from the office of the Bangladeshi honorary consul there, they have, in a desperate attempt for a resolution, resorted to abstaining from work for the last three days. Allegations have also been levelled against the Bangladeshi authorities that instead of taking steps, they are 'pressuring' the workers to rejoin work.
However, the government has refuted the claim, dismissing the accusations of killings and forced disappearances of the workers.
Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Jafar Ahmed told bdnews24.com, "We have already talked to the parties concerned about the workers' issues. They have taken steps and the problems have been solved. They have accepted the demands of the workers, including providing security. They will be joining work from Sunday."
But when asked about the workers' allegation of forced disappearances and killings, he denied them and said, "These charges are baseless. None of our workers has been killed or gone missing there. "
Classic Fashion is owned by Sanar Kumar, who hails from Kerala. It is located in Jordan's Al Hasan area and employs over five thousand worker, of which, nearly three thousand are Bangladeshi women.
Champa Akhter, a Bangladeshi worker who works for the factory, alleged that criminals recently abducted one of their co-workers, Nazma Akhter. Another of their colleague, Polly, also went missing a few days back. But the complaints did not cut ice with the factory authorities. Instead, the owners claimed that Nazma and Polly have fled the factory to work for another organisation.
She added that the office of Bangladesh's Consulate General there also did not act to protect the workers. A number of her colleagues also alleged that some of the Bangladesh officials and their Indian allies were tied to the occurrences and that the 'abducted' female workers could have been 'raped' and 'murdered'.
When pressed about the problems of the female workers, Jafar Ahmed said, "Our girls also create problems. They have gone to work for that factory on a two-year contract. But they are violating the terms and fleeing to work for other organisations. As a result, the organisation is facing losses."
The Bangladeshi Consul General in Jordan, Tawfique Islam, could not be reached for his comments on the issue.
The workers also alleged that the Indian owner of 'Classic Fashion' and the Bangladeshi authorities there are tied to the 'disappearances' and 'killings'. The female workers are also unable to return home as their passports have been taken by the owners.
After failing to elicit positive response from the office of the Bangladeshi honorary consul there, they have, in a desperate attempt for a resolution, resorted to abstaining from work for the last three days. Allegations have also been levelled against the Bangladeshi authorities that instead of taking steps, they are 'pressuring' the workers to rejoin work.
However, the government has refuted the claim, dismissing the accusations of killings and forced disappearances of the workers.
Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Jafar Ahmed told bdnews24.com, "We have already talked to the parties concerned about the workers' issues. They have taken steps and the problems have been solved. They have accepted the demands of the workers, including providing security. They will be joining work from Sunday."
But when asked about the workers' allegation of forced disappearances and killings, he denied them and said, "These charges are baseless. None of our workers has been killed or gone missing there. "
Classic Fashion is owned by Sanar Kumar, who hails from Kerala. It is located in Jordan's Al Hasan area and employs over five thousand worker, of which, nearly three thousand are Bangladeshi women.
Champa Akhter, a Bangladeshi worker who works for the factory, alleged that criminals recently abducted one of their co-workers, Nazma Akhter. Another of their colleague, Polly, also went missing a few days back. But the complaints did not cut ice with the factory authorities. Instead, the owners claimed that Nazma and Polly have fled the factory to work for another organisation.
She added that the office of Bangladesh's Consulate General there also did not act to protect the workers. A number of her colleagues also alleged that some of the Bangladesh officials and their Indian allies were tied to the occurrences and that the 'abducted' female workers could have been 'raped' and 'murdered'.
When pressed about the problems of the female workers, Jafar Ahmed said, "Our girls also create problems. They have gone to work for that factory on a two-year contract. But they are violating the terms and fleeing to work for other organisations. As a result, the organisation is facing losses."
The Bangladeshi Consul General in Jordan, Tawfique Islam, could not be reached for his comments on the issue.
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