The centre also demanded immediate formation of EPZ Labour Tribunal and EPZ Labour Appellate Tribunal outside the BEPZA and EPZ areas.

It also demanded withdrawal of false cases against all WRWC members and workers.

The demands were made at a press conference organised by Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity (BCWS) at the National Press Club in the city.

Addressing the press conference, BCWS leaders alleged that some factory owners and in some cases BEPZA authorities are illegally sacking the workers and WRWC members.

They also alleged that nine WRWC members of A-One BD Ltd were forced to resign and in other cases they were terminated as they protected the interest of workers.

Harassment of workers has become a regular phenomenon in the EPZ as the authorities often lodge false cases against the workers whenever they speak of their legal rights, they said.

In a written statement, Babul Akhter, law and research secretary of BCWS, said many workers including WRWC members of Red Point Jackets, Yang One, Ring Shine Textile and SGWICUS BD Ltd are being harassed by filing criminal cases against them.

The workers are also deprived of their legal rights as there is no EPZ Labour Tribunal or EPZ Labour Appellate Tribunal.

Kabir Hossain, a temporarily suspended WRWC convenor of LSI Industries Ltd, said they are extremely oppressed as they do not have any place to go for justice.

"The only place to go to seek justice is BEPZA which always serves the interest of owners instead of us," he alleged.

Kalpona Akter, secretary general of BCWS, said the workers in EPZ never get justice as they do no have the right to form trade union.

Though the EPZ workers get a little much higher salary than the other workers, they are deprived of their rights, she added.

Kalpona demanded reinstatement of all suspended and terminated workers of EPZ including those of A-One BD Ltd.

Workers of different factories also spoke at the conference.