Ashulia:Authorities have announced the indefinite closure of at least 50 garment factories in the Ashulia industrial area due to ongoing workers' unrest over demands for a wage increase. Closure notices were posted at the entrances of these factories in various industrial zones on Saturday morning.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the situation in the surrounding areas of Savar and Ashulia remains calm, with workers generally reporting to their jobs at most operational factories, where production continues without disruption. Muminul Islam Bhuiyan, Superintendent of Industrial Police-1 in Dhaka, confirmed that the majority of garment workers had entered the factories and commenced their work without any reported incidents.
The closures were enacted under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, prompting workers to refrain from reporting for duty upon discovering the notices. To ensure law and order, personnel from the Industrial Police, Dhaka District Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been stationed in front of the affected factories.
In connection with the recent labour unrest, 132 individuals have been arrested, with 72 apprehended by Savar Police Station and 60 by Ashulia Police Station. Sources indicate that many workers participating in the demonstrations are also requesting their wages for the previous month. Despite having pending purchase orders from international buyers, factory owners are experiencing challenges in maintaining production and fulfilling their obligations due to the ongoing unrest.