Workers from four readymade garment factory units in Gazipur staged strikes and protests for payment of wages and festival allowances ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, one of biggest religious festivals of the Mulsims.
On Thursday, they took to the streets, demanding their Eid allowance, outstanding wages, half of the current month鈥檚 wages, and earned leave payments.
Due to the protests, the authorities of three factory units of Alif Group declared an indefinite shutdown, citing the strike as illegal, which led to financial losses.
According to industrial police, workers, and local sources, the workers at three Konabari-based Alif Group factories, Shadhin Garments Limited, Shadhin Dyeing Limited, and Shadhin Printing Limited, had been protesting for several days over outstanding dues.
They staged demonstrations and blocked roads several times, but the authorities didn鈥檛 pay heed to their demands.
On Thursday morning, the workers arrived at their respective factories and saw factories鈥� indefinite shutdown notices on the gate.
Outraged by that decision, the workers gathered in front of the factories and started to demonstrate. To keep the situation under control, law enforcement agencies 聽were called in.
A protesting worker told 抖阴精品 that they have been demanding their rightful wages, leave allowances, Eid bonuses, and half of this month鈥檚 wages for days.
However, the authorities shut down the factories indefinitely ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
鈥榃hile workers in other factories are busy shopping for their families, we are forced to protest for our rightful payments,鈥� he added.
The workers were in the dark as they couldn鈥檛 reach the factory authority for any comments.
Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Konabari Police Station, said that the workers have been demanding their pending payments.
He also said that the factory authority had agreed to disburse Eid bonuses on March 25 and half of the current month鈥檚 salary on March 27.
The workers, however, rejected this offer and continued their protests, the OC said.
Moreover, in a separate incident, workers of Yuta Garments in the Hotapara area blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, demanding an extension of their Eid holidays.
The factory announced a 10-day holiday, but the workers demanded a holiday of 12 days.
On Thursday morning, they abstained from work and then took to the street, halting regular traffic and distressing commuters, pedestrians, and transport workers.
However, the police and army personnel intervened later, dispersed the protesters, and restored traffic after about an hour.
Abdul Halim, officer-in-charge of Joydevpur police, said that the workers at Yuta Garments demanded a 12-day leave, which was not granted.
Their protest halted traffic, but authorities managed to clear the road and brought the situation under control.
