One hundred fifty nine terminated permanent employees of private telecom company Grameenphone on Tuesday demanded job reinstatement and payment of arrears since their termination from service in 2021.
Addressing a press conference in front of the Department of Labour in the Dhaka city, Grameenphone Employees Union leaders alleged that Bangladesh鈥檚 labour law and court rulings were violated in the termination of the 159 employees from the service.聽
鈥楧eclaring 180 permanent employees as Job Description Less and subsequent termination of 159 violate not only Bangladesh鈥檚 labour laws, but also ILO Conventions 87 and 98,鈥� said Fazlul Haque, president of Grameenphone Employees Union, after a tripartite meeting at the Department of Labour.聽聽聽
Shamima Sultana Bari, director, Trade Union and Arbitration Wing of Department of Labour, Mitsu Sawlin, deputy director, Arbitration and Training of Grameenphone, Fazlul Haque, president of the employees union, among other senior officials attended the tripartite meeting.聽
The employees union leaders said that although several issues were discussed in detail, the meeting ended without a conclusive decision, and the next meeting was scheduled for November 17, 2025.
Union leaders called upon journalists, trade unions, human rights organisations and conscious citizens to stand united in support of workers鈥� justice.
The terminated employees said that they respected the laws and would continue their struggle through legal and peaceful means to reclaim the lawful rights.
During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, Grameenphone declared 180 permanent employees as JDL and terminated 159 of them on June 20, 2021.
Despite a Labour Court ruling in favour of reinstating the terminated employees with payment of full arrears Grameenphone continued to appoint workers on contract in permanent positions, violating laws, the terminated employees alleged.
The High Court confirmed the legality of arbitration proceedings on March 12, 2025 and the Appellate Division dismissed Grameenphone鈥檚 appeal on July 14, 2025, they mentioned.
