Dhaka, Feb. 21 -- Leaders of the National Shop Employees Federation (NSEF) on Friday demanded festival allowances and overtime facilities for nearly six million workers employed in shops, retail outlets, shopping malls, and chain stores across the country.

The demand was raised by the federation's General Secretary Amirul Haque Amin at a press conference held at the National Press Club in Dhaka. He said that while workers in many sectors, including government employees, receive festival allowances twice a year, shop and retail workers are often deprived of this benefit despite their contribution to the economy.

According to the federation, around six million people are employed in the shop and retail sector nationwide. During the holy m...