Kaliakair (Gazipur) Representative:

Monday morning was like any other day. But before the sun rose, a heated crowd gathered in front of the gate of General Pharmaceuticals Limited in the Surichala area of ​​Mouchak. Slogans on their faces, placards in their hands, "Give me my salary, give me a chance to live."

Three months' salary, and a year's overtime, that was the main demand. However, the fire of anger behind it seemed to be very old.

The strike started at 9 am inside the factory. The sound of the machines stopped, and in its place came the sound of protest. The police came, but there was no talk.

Even in the presence of the industrial police and the police station, the workers did not shut up. They said that their stomachs were not filled with words and assurances, and they could not buy rice and pulses in the market.

"We have not received our salaries for three months, the shopkeeper is not paying the balance, and the landlord is asking us to leave," said a female worker who did not want to be named, tears and anger mixing in her eyes.

Another added, “The staff also have 9 months of unpaid salaries. Why is this situation happening in such a big company!”

Factory Admin Officer Mosharraf Hossain, however, assured, “All the dues will be paid by October 22. There is a shortage of money in the fund now.” But the workers responded with a tone of disappointment— “My stomach will be empty on the 22nd, what will I eat today?”

Kashimpur Industrial Police OC Akbar Hossain said, “The workers have been protesting inside the factory since morning. We have been trying to talk to them repeatedly, but they are not willing to listen for now.”

Till the time this report was written, there was tension in front of the factory gate. The silence of the machine seemed to say—where the salary stops, the work stops.