Dhaka:Ganatantrik Chhatra Jote, a coalition of left-leaning student organizations, organized a protest rally on Wednesday demanding justice for garment worker Toufiq Hossain, who died from injuries sustained during a wage hike movement in Gazipur.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the protest was held in front of the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University. Protesters called for an end to attacks and repression by police and ruling-party members against workers. They demanded a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 for garment workers.
Leaders and activists from various levels of the alliance participated in the protest. Rafiqujjaman Farid, coordinator of Chhatra Jote and general secretary of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, criticized the portrayal of workers' movements as political conspiracies, stating that such labels have been applied by different parties, including the Awami League and BNP-Jamaat, over time.
Farid alleged that workers were being tracked, assaulted, and arrested by authorities, demanding a fair trial for Toufiq's death. He emphasized that police and ruling-party attacks against workers must cease. He also noted that while workers were advised to wait for wage decisions, government employees' salaries were already being revised.
Muzammel Haque, convener of the Dhaka University unit of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, highlighted the struggle of workers to meet basic needs amid rising prices. He urged for an immediate increase in the minimum wage to Tk 30,000.
Following the rally, the alliance's leaders and activists marched towards Paltan to support ongoing worker protests.