On visiting the work station near Kamlapur Railway Station, it was seen that no work was going on there. People were coming and going towards the railway colony and station through the gate. Later an electrician named Shahryar came out and said that the security guard was nearby and the work there was stopped for a month.
However, during the visit there, laborers were found working in Hatirjheel area. After talking to a worker, it came to light that the Tejgaon work station had been closed and the workers from that yard had been employed in Hatirjheel.
The worker named Mehedi Hasan told that earlier he used to work at Tejgaon Work Station. Their number there was around 70. Of these, 40 have been employed in Hatirjheel and the rest have been sent on leave. Work continues in Hathijheel from 6 am to 5 pm. He makes rod cages.
Speaking on the issue of leave, many employees said that they were told that the condition of the company was bad. They will be called again later when construction resumes.
One of the workers sent on leave, MD Ibrahim (30), told Prothom Alo that he worked for ten months and was sent on leave this March 21. At first he worked at Tejgaon work center tying rod structures. At that time he received a monthly salary of more than Taka 18,000.
Including overtime, he then earned about 26,000–27,000 taka per month. After five months he was made a signalman in Moghbazar at the same salary. Later he got a job as a security guard at a low salary.
*The report, which was originally published in the print and online editions of Prothom Alo, has been rewritten in English by Naureen Ahmed Monisha.
