At least 51 readymade garment factories in Ashulia and Gazipur suspended operations on Saturday, primarily after lunch, as workers staged protests over arrears, the reopening of factories, and demands for a wage increase.
Workers from several garment factories, including Mondol Knitwear, blocked the Bypile-Abdullahpur road in the Zirabo area of Ashulia in the morning, demanding the reopening of closed factories, the withdrawal of cases against workers, and an increase in the minimum wage to Tk 22,000.
Workers of four garment factories in Gazipur staged demonstrations over separate demands, including opening of closed factories and payment of arrears, 抖阴精品 Gazipur corresponcent reported.
Workers also blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Konabari-Kashimpur roads.
Workers of Jamuna Denims Limited in the Konabari area, HR One Fashion Limited and HR One Accessories factory in Shalna area and Silicon Swing Limited factory in Memberbari area held protests and blocked roads.
Law enforcement agencies later cleared the workers from both locations.
Officials from the Industrial Police stated that workers at Mondol Knitwear had blocked the Ashulia road for three hours in the morning due to their demands for a wage increase, among other issues.
As a result of these incidents, 20 to 25 readymade garment factories in Ashulia announced the closure of their units after lunch.
The majority of factories in the industrial zone had been operating since morning, with workers attending their workplaces.
Protests from the Lusaka Group and Mondal Group, along with several nearby factories, however, forced many to announce closures.
According to industry sources, a total of 49 garment factories in Ashulia and two in the Gazipur industrial belt halted production on that day.
Of these, 12 factories in Ashulia closed under labour law provision 13(1), which states 鈥榥o work, no pay,鈥� while the remaining 37 factories announced a holiday as workers either did not report for work or left after attending.
Garment factory owners had agreed on September 24 to all 18 demands of the protesting workers, including increases in attendance, tiffin, and night shift allowances, in an effort to restore normalcy in the units, particularly in the Ashulia area, where protests had been ongoing since August 29.
