Dozens of former Grameenphone employees staged a protest at GP House, the company's headquarters in the capital's Bashundhara area, claiming they were illegally dismissed and denied their rightful benefits.

The protesters kept the building's entrance blocked, preventing hundreds of employees from leaving the Grameenphone office until 12:00am today.

"We are going out of GP House now. The protesters have left the scene," a high official of Grameenphone, requesting anonymity, told The Daily Star at around 12:15am today.

However, he could not give any more detail.

They alleged that Grameenphone ignored a government directive and, instead of distributing 5 percent of its profits to workers, filed a writ petition with the High Court.

Despite a court ruling and ongoing protests, the company only paid the principal amount but used legal maneuvers to evade penalties, the protesters claimed.

In response, Grameenphone stated: "Some former employees of GP have been gathering in front of GP House over the last few days, raising various demands related to employment and benefits. To our knowledge, most of them separated from Grameenphone a long time ago and have already received their lawful entitlements. Additionally, the demands raised by these individuals are currently the subject of various cases before the Hon'ble courts.

Grameenphone has high regard for the judicial process. Therefore, any legal proceedings will eventually be resolved through the court system. Grameenphone remains committed to providing uninterrupted communication services to its customers across Bangladesh.

While Grameenphone respects the right to peaceful assembly, these individuals have been blocking the entry and exit points of GP premises illegally, hindering the free movement of our employees and customers. Grameenphone respects the law of the land and considers the safety and security of its employees and customers as its highest priority. Law enforcement agencies have deployed personnel around GP premises to protect individuals and property."