As part of the continuous unrest in the Readymade Garment (RMG) sector, around 50 factories were closed on Tuesday at different places in the city’s outskirts Ashulia and neighbouring district Gazipur on Tuesday.
Police and local sources said, protests by the workers, who have been carrying out demonstrations with different demands, including unpaid wages and equal employment of male and female, forced the owners to shut their factories.
In Ashulia Industrial zone, at least 40 factories remained shut in Ashulia as the workers' unrest is yet to be fully subdued.
The overall situation in the area, however, has improved compared to the last few days.
"The situation is much calmer compared to before. Most factories opened in the morning. Some factories have been closed since Monday, and due to unsuccessful discussions between the factory owners and the workers inside, about 21 factories declared a holiday on Tuesday," said Md Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Industrial Police-1.
He said the situation on the streets around the factories remained calmer since the morning.
"The law enforcement agencies are closely monitoring the situation and patrolling the industrial area," Sarwar added.
Although most factories in Ashulia opened on Tuesday morning, at least 21 garment factories were forced to declare a holidayin the first three hours due to unresolved discussions between
the owners and workers.
Moreover, 19 factories that announced holiday on Monday did not open on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, BGMEA sources said that till 12 noon they had information of 42 factories being closed on Tuesday out of which 41 factories are in Savar-Ashulia and Jirani area.
These include, Mascot, Lusaka, Generation Next, Radiance Knitwear, Tex Town, Euphoria and other factories.
Besides, the workers of 11 garment factories left the factory without working even though the factory was open on Tuesday.
On the other hand, the workers of at least 21 factories including Sharmeen Group, Mandal Knitwear, Crosswear Limited, Yagi, Garments Export Village, Prince Jacquard Limited, AR Jeans Producer Limited are said to be standing inside the factory and creating chaos with various demands.
"The workers came to the factory on Tuesday morning but are yet to start work. The factory owners are present and are discussing the workers' demands with them," said a female worker of a factory of Sharmeen Group.
She also said the workers did not cause any chaos in the factories.
"The workers may start working shortly if things settle with the factory owners," she added.
Industry sources said the situation at the factories on both sides of the Baipail-Abdullahpur road remained calm.
The situation in the factories in Ashulia's Kathgora area, however, has deteriorated.
In several factories, workers have ceased work to meet various demands. The factory owners are discussing with the workers to resolve these issues, said the sources.
This is the opposite of what's been happening over the past few days as the workers' discontent started from Baipail to Jirabo along the Baipail-Abdullahpur road. The situation in the factories located in the Kathgora areas mainly remained calm over the previous days.
Apart from a few isolated incidents, no major news of worker unrest has yet been reported in this area.
Earlier on Monday, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) decided to open all garment factories today after a meeting with factory owners, trade union leaders, and law enforcement agencies.
Following the meeting, Ashiqur Rahman, a director of BGMEA, told TBS that all factories, including the 119 that were closed yesterday, would open on Tuesday.
He also mentioned both parties agreed that new hiring would be based on qualifications and factory needs, irrespective of gender, after more than six hours of discussions.
Workers of 3 RMG factories on strike in Tongi
In Tongi, thousands of workers of three RMG factories in Gazipur's Tongi staged protests demanding their unpaid wages.
The factories are Garments Export Village Limited, Bravo Apparels, and Prince Jacquard Sweater Limited.
Workers from Garments Export Village Limited and Bravo Apparels, both part of the Amtranet Group, blocked a regional road in the BSCIC industrial area since 9:00am today.
Around 3,000 workers observed work abstention for the third straight day, halting production.
The workers' 13-point demand includes the payment of due salaries, said Gazipur Industrial Police Inspector Saiful Islam.
Meanwhile, hundreds of workers of Prince Jacquard Sweater Limited in Tongi's Satish Baganbari went on strike from 9:00am on Tuesday, raising 11 demands, including unpaid salaries, inspector Saiful confirmed.
Meanwhile, the authorities closed APS Garments in Pubail on Tuesday as no workers have shown up, said Nasir, a sub-inspector of Pubail Police Station.
They raised 13-point demands, including timely payment of salaries.
APS Group Managing Director Shamim Reza said, "The workers started protest on Monday, and the factory was declared closed on Tuesday."
"Our economic situation is dire. A loan is likely to be granted from Bangladesh Bank to help us get on our feet. If the money arrives today, the factory can resume operation tomorrow.," he added.
