Three employees of the Pabna Sugar Mill in Ishwardi have been suspended for allegedly beating up Siddique Ali, the general manager (GM administration) of the Pabna Sugar Mill and assaulting four officials. On Thursday, mill authorities announced the decision to dismiss them.
The three sacked workers are Pabna Sugar Mill Works Union executive committee member and electric helper Kabibur Rahman Kabir, LDA cum typist Manjurul Haque Monju and Khalasi Abul Kashem of the mill house. Pabna Sugar Mill Managing Director (MD) Saif Uddin Ahmed has confirmed the dismissal of three workers.
According to sources, the workers had been protesting for some time demanding payment of six months' salary and allowances. At around 11:30 am on August 26, the workers and employees of the mill staged a protest procession and assembly at the mill premises demanding payment of salaries, allowances and dues. From the rally, they demanded immediate payment of salaries and allowances. If the salary is not paid within seven days, a strict movement is also announced.
After seven days, at noon on Tuesday, hundreds of workers and employees again rallied and marched with various slogans. With the procession, they wanted to know why the mill's general manager (GM administration) Siddique Ali has paid them. At one stage of the conversation, CBA members of the mill Kabir, Monju and Abul Kashem got agitated and beat up GM Siddique Ali and injured him. At that time, when some more people came forward to protect him, they were also assaulted.
After the incident, the mill administration informed their superiors about the matter. Pabna Sugar Mill authorities said on Thursday that the three employees involved in the beating had been suspended on the instructions of senior officials.
Saif Uddin Ahmed, MD of the mill, described the incident as "tragic" and said it was a crime in the eyes of the law to raise one's hand against an officer. This is not acceptable. For this reason, the three workers of the mill have been suspended and this disciplinary action has been taken.
