Around 95 Readymade Garment (RMG) factories in the city’s outskirts Ashulia and Tongi were closed amid continuous protests by the workers on Monday while three of the factories were reportedly looted.
The unrest the RMG sectors have been continuing since last August 29 as the protesting workers have been staging demonstrations with various demands including the recruitment of an equal number of men and women, increased salaries and other benefits, and reduced workloads.
UNB, Savar reports; three RMG factories in Ashulia were looted and vandalised by masked miscreants.
The attacks targeted factories under Alif Village Limited, including Alif Embroidery Village Ltd, Lam Meem Apparels Ltd, and Lam Meem Associates Ltd, all located in the Tongibari area.
According to Refai Siddique, Manager of HR Admin for the Ashulia zone, around 1,500 workers had reported to work as usual in the morning when the violence erupted.
“A group of masked individuals stormed the factories, causing extensive damage,” said Siddique. When security personnel attempted to intervene, the attackers beat up 20 guards, leaving them injured. The assailants also looted valuables from the factories before fleeing the scene.
On Sunday night, workers at Euphoria Apparels Ltd staged demonstrations demanding bonuses, an increase in tiffin allowances, and the payment of August salaries. The protest escalated into a clash with police, during which the agitated workers vandalized vehicles belonging to the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and the Army.
The situation in Ashulia remains tense, with additional Rab and Army forces deployed to maintain order. In connection with the unrest, eleven people have been arrested.
Meanwhile, around 80 factories at Baipail and Zirabo in Ashulia remained closed on Monday amid the workers' ongoing protests.
Md Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Industrial Police-1, confirmed the matter.
Huge number of personnel from the Industrial Police, Bangladesh Army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and other security agencies have been deployed to ensure security in the areas.
BGMEA official sources said they have information on the closure of 68 groups/companies in Ashulia region, including Ananta, Sharmin, Hamim, and Sterling Group on the "leave with pay" policy.
Moreover, workers of at least eight factories caused distress inside the factory premises. These factories are Mandal Knitwear, Natural Denim, Knit Composite, Radiance Jeans, Radiance Fashion, Garments Export Village, Bravo Apparels Limited, and Prince Jacquard Sweater Limited.
Workers said the owners on Sunday night announced a general holiday for Monday and put up notices in front of the factories.
Some factories put up notices this morning. Workers went to the factories in the morning, found the closure notices, and returned home.
"Most of the factories in this region are closed today. A few factories are open, but this number is very negligible. All the big factories, including Hamim and Sharmin, are closed," said Khairul Mamun Mintu, the legal secretary of Bangladesh Garments and Sweater Workers Trade Union Centre (GWTUC).
He also mentioned that workers attempted to block the road this morning in the Shimultala area, but members of the joint forces persuaded the workers to go home.
Industry sources said they have received closure notices from many factories. Hamim, Sharmin, and Deco had already announced they would be closed.
Earlier on Sunday, at least 30 readymade garment factories in Ashulia suspended operations as workers continued to protest and press various demands.
Prior to that, at least 17 RMG factories in the Ashulia industrial zone declared a holiday on Saturday amid protests by the workers.
RMG workers' protests erupted on August 29 when they began demanding various changes from the garment factory owners, including the recruitment of an equal number of men and women, increased salaries and other benefits, and reduced workloads.
In Ashulia; RMG workers from two factories in Tongi area in Gazzipur staged protests and halted work to push for their 13-point demands.
On the second day of protest on Monday, almost 3,000 workers from Garments Export Village Limited and Bravo Apparels staged the demonstrations at 9:00am in the BSCIC Industrial Area.
Syed Rafiul Karim, officer-in-charge of Tongi East Police Station, said "After discussions in the afternoon, the factory owners agreed to pay one month's salary. They also assured that the other demands would be addressed.
Consequently, the workers suspended their protest, and the factory was declared closed for the day, allowing the workers to go home."
Md Alamgir Hossain, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said, "Apparels Limited was supposed to pay salaries by the 7th. However, when they failed to do so, the workers began protesting instead of joining work. After police intervened and negotiated with the owners, a new salary date of the 12th was agreed upon, which the workers accepted and then returned home."
The protesting workers' demands include payment of salaries by the 7th of every month, increasing attendance bonuses to Tk1,000, a 15% wage hike, consolidated payment for 18 days of annual leave, an end to mistreatment by factory staff, stopping the blacklisting of workers' names, paying three months and 13 days' salary if dismissed, and increasing tiffin and night allowances, among others.
The protesting workers also emphasised that no worker or staff member should face harassment, abuse, or oppression.
They insisted that the compliance department should not be controlled by any specific company and that the rightful demands of workers and staff representatives must be taken seriously.
These demands should be officially acknowledged through a notice, said the workers.
They further announced that they would continue their protests until their demands are met.
