Police arrested six former employees of Grameenphone on Tuesday during a sit-in protest in front of the company’s head office in the capital’s Bashundhara area, where over 500 former officers and staff were demanding outstanding arrears and other entitlements.
The sit-in was organised under the banner of the “Grameenphone 5 Percent Arrears Recovery Unity Council”, with participants gathering at the company’s head office since morning.
Vatara Police Station OC Mazharul Islam said the six had been taken to the station for questioning. “They will be shown arrested if their involvement is confirmed after interrogation; otherwise, they will be released,” he said.
The detained individuals are Khalid Mamun, Bulbul, Nazrul, Kalam, Mojibar, and Quraishi.
Sirajul Islam, joint convener of the movement, said around 500-600 former employees and their family members from various parts of the country participated in the programme. The participants expressed hope for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of their demands, which include long-standing arrears and 5 percent delayed dues.
A large contingent of police was deployed in front of GP’s head office following the protest. Law enforcement personnel were also positioned in the surrounding alleys, including near Jamuna Future Park.
Grameenphone Head of Communications Sharafuddin Ahmed Chowdhury said the demands raised by some former employees are currently sub judice. “Grameenphone believes that these matters will be resolved through the legal process in court,” he said.
He added that the company had been obliged to take appropriate legal remedies to ensure the safety and security of its employees and company assets.
Former employees of Grameenphone have staged protest programmes on various occasions in the past. On 25 February 2025, they demonstrated under the banner of the ‘Terminated and Rights-Deprived Grameenphone Workers Unity Council’, when police used water cannons and baton charges to disperse the protesters and detained several individuals, including women.
