60 garment factories closed in Ashulia amid workers’ unrest

At least 60 garment factories were forced to declare themselves closed in Ashulia industrial area today in the face of protests by workers over various demands.
According to industrial police sources, the situation began escalating after 8:00am when the workers of different factories from Baipail to Zirabo area on the Baipail-Abdullahpur road in Ashulia entered the factories.
Md Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Industrial Police-1, confirmed that authorities were forced to announce the closure of their factories one by one, as workers started protesting with various demands.
By 11:30am, workers started protesting at various points along the Baipail-Abdullahpur road, causing significant traffic disruptions.
Industrial Police, supported by the army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel, were deployed to manage the situation.
However, several factories were open in other industrial zones, including inside the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), the SP said.
Meanwhile, over a thousand workers from a factory blocked the Nabinagar-Chandra highway in Ashulia’s Palashbari area around 12:00pm today, continuing their protests over various demands.
The workers had previously protested a week ago, pressing for a 12-point demand that included transportation allowances, food stipends, salary increments, reduced maternity duty, and the dismissal of officials accused of harassment.
Following those protests, the owners of the factory initially agreed to meet the demands but later closed the factory, said protesters.
When the factory reopened today, the authorities informed the workers that none of their demands would be fulfilled, the protesters said.
Abu Ishaq, a worker of the factory, said, “Previously, our company provided us with incentives, food allowances, and transportation fare, but recently, these benefits were discontinued without notice.”
Anwar Hossain, additional superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, said, “We are in talks with the workers and trying to persuade them to clear the road. We are also trying to talk to the factory authority.”
Mohammad Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, confirmed that in response to the protests, at least 60 factories, including Ha-Meem Group and Sharmin Group, were forced to close down operations.
“Workers are still on the road [around 3:45pm], and we are working to normalise the situation,” he added.