Banglalink yesterday closed its headquarters and its regional offices
as labour protests erupted after an employee fell ill during an
interrogation by higher officials over a dispute.
“He was immediately rushed to hospital, but, unfortunately, some
employees became emotional and gathered to express their concern,”
Banglalink said in a statement. The employee, Md Mostaque, was taken to
United Hospital.
In the light of the situation, the office was closed around 2pm
yesterday, according to the statement. Banglalink is expected to reopen
its offices today.
All the customer care centres were open and the closure had no impact
on the services, Shihab Ahmad, chief commercial officer of Banglalink,
said at a press conference.
The prickly situation between the management and employees started on
February 11, when the operator discontinued the service of Shariful
Islam, a senior manager and an engineer.
This had led to dissatisfaction among some of his colleagues.
A group of current and former employees and outsiders blocked the entrance to Banglalink's corporate office last Thursday.
Senior officials of the operator said Islam was engaged in activities
that were not permitted under his employment contract with Banglalink.
Banglalink did not explain what his fault was.
Ahmad said VimpelCom, Banglalink's Amsterdam-headquartered parent
company, is currently undergoing restructuring and Islam's termination
was part of the process.
Islam's termination was not because of his active participation in employees' union, he added.
“As we reshape Banglalink, we have implemented a voluntary separation
scheme and will begin consultations with the staff who may be
eligible,” said Banglalink, the second largest mobile operator in
Bangladesh after Grameenphone.
Ujjal Pal, president of Banglalink Employees' Union, said: “We will
continue the demonstration until Shariful Islam is reinstated.”
Earlier on Thursday, the agitated employees confined Perihane Elhamy,
chief technology officer of Banglalink, to the headquarters in Gulshan
over Islam's dismissal.
Elhamy, an Egyptian, was released nine hours later, after the police
and the management assured the employees of looking into the matter.
Subsequently, the union withdrew the demonstration.
