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Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has expressed solidarity with garment workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, while condemning alleged repression and excessive use of force against protesters.
In a statement sent to the media on Wednesday, Quader criticised the government over reports of physical assaults and arrests of workers during the ongoing protests.
He said rising inflation and the increasing cost of essential commodities had made it almost impossible for garment workers to meet their living expenses under the existing wage structure.
Quader also expressed concern over the reported death of a garment worker named Toufiq, who died while undergoing treatment after being injured in Gazipur.
He demanded compensation for the victim’s family and expressed sympathy for them.
However, the Jatiya Party chairman acknowledged the challenges facing garment factory owners, including rising electricity and gas prices, supply shortages, higher raw material costs and problems in the banking sector.
He said both workers and factory owners had legitimate concerns and called on the government to ensure a fair solution.
Quader proposed government subsidies, cash assistance or a rationing system to help workers meet their basic needs.
He suggested supplying rice, lentils, flour, edible oil, sugar, salt and LPG at subsidised prices, either directly to workers or through factory owners.
Photo: Collected