Staff Correspondent:

Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain has said that action would be taken through Interpol against former Awami League lawmaker from Magura-1 constituency, Saifuzzaman Shikhar, who fled abroad without settling workers’ dues.

The adviser disclosed this during a press conference on Thursday, where he discussed the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s initiative to ensure the payment of all dues, including salaries, bonuses, and other entitlements, ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

He said that Tk 1.23 crore had already been disbursed from the emergency account of the Ministry’s Central Fund to pay the dues of workers from Roar Fashion Ltd, a company owned by Shikhar. The payment was made to address the workers’ concerns, as Shikhar, the factory owner, remains absconding.

However, the adviser clarified that this initiative could not be extended to other organisations.

The responsibility of paying workers’ dues lies with the owner, but since Shikhar is fleeing, the Ministry has issued a notice, and necessary action will be taken through Interpol.

A committee led by the Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner has been formed to oversee the disbursement of funds, which were lent to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), added the adviser.

Sakhawat further mentioned that he has instructed the secretary to take necessary steps to issue an arrest warrant against the absconding owner.

The Home Ministry has already been informed about this.