Over 100 garments factories have suspended operations in Gazipur, Savar and Ashulia as workers continue to protest to press home various demands.
The factories were shut on Wednesday (September 4) afternoon. Workers joined work in the morning but then some of them gathered at Tongi BSCIC, Bhogra bypass, Bagher Bazar and Mawna. When they tried to vandalise some factories, members of army and industrial police foiled the attempt.
In Savar, at least 60 readymade garment factories declared holiday. Industrial Police said a general holiday was declared in these factories located on both sides of the road from Tongi-Ashulia-EPZ road from Bypile to Jirabo.
The authorities closed the factories when workers entered several factories in Ashulia in the morning and started demonstrating. Later, workers from these factories gathered in front of other factories that were in production and continued protests.
The demonstrations were triggered by various demands from the workers, including better wages and improved working conditions.
The protests began around 8am when workers from the Baipal and Abdullahpur areas arrived at their factories.
By 8:30am, workers from closed factories gathered outside operational ones, leading to clashes and vandalism.
They threw bricks and stones, which led to the authorities closing the factories to avoid further escalation.
The unrest caused severe traffic congestion on local roads. The protests saw workers blocking roads and demanding better conditions, including higher allowances, increased maternity leave, and annual salary hikes.
The situation became tense when workers from different factories joined the demonstrations, leading to a broader impact on the industrial area.
Around 10am, workers outside the Palashbari area protested in front of the Pearl Garments Company Limited, blocking the Nabinnagar-Chandra highway, which resulted in significant traffic jams.
The army and local police were deployed to negotiate with the protesters and urged them to clear the road. However, the workers vowed to continue their protest until their demands were met.
In the Palashbari area, workers from the Gildan Bangladesh factory were also involved in the protests.
They expressed their frustration and urged for the protection of their workplace, which had been subject to attacks by outsiders. The factory was eventually closed after the attacks, with workers fearing for their safety.
Meanwhile, workers tried to gather at some places on Tongi-Ashulia-EPZ and Nabinagar-Chandra highways, disrupting traffic movement. The industrial police, army and BGB members are working to control the situation.
‘Outsiders involved in unrest’
Local government Adviser AF Hasan Arif said that those who are involved in workers’ unrest are mostly outsiders.
“We’ll take strict action to protect the economy and the workers,” he warned on Wednesday (September 4) after an emergency meeting on RMG workers’ unrest.
“A real worker won’t burn his factory because his livelihood lies there. It was done by outsiders,” he said. “We have to deal with them strictly [and] take action if we want to save factories, workers and the economy.”
