40 Garment Factories in Ashulia Closed Indefinitely, Six More Grant Holiday for the Day

Against the backdrop of ongoing worker unrest demanding that the minimum monthly wage be raised to 30,000 taka, owners have declared at least 40 ready-made garment factories in Ashulia, in Dhaka's industrial area, closed for an indefinite period.

On Saturday morning (14 November), formal closure notices were hung at the main gates of the factories concerned in different areas of the industrial zone.

However, except for these factories, workers joined work on time in most neighbouring factories, so overall production activity remains normal.

Industrial Police-1 Superintendent of Police Mominul Islam Bhuiyan said workers entered different establishments peacefully from the morning and started work, and no report of any unpleasant situation was received anywhere.

As closure notices for an indefinite period were put up in 40 factories under section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, the workers concerned returned without joining work.

In addition, authorities granted a general holiday for the day in six more factories after workers observed an internal work stoppage after entering the factories.

To avoid unwanted disorder and maintain security, a joint presence of Industrial Police alongside Dhaka District Police, RAB and BGB has been ensured at important places in the industrial area and in front of the closed factories.

Over the past few days, the workers' movement demanding a wage increase took a severe turn in the Savar and Ashulia region. In the face of protests, repeated chases and counter-chases and clashes with law enforcement occurred, and police used tear gas and sound grenades to bring the situation under control.

Police have so far arrested at least 132 people in multiple cases filed over the clashes and violence. Sector insiders have expressed fear that the number of closed factories may rise further if the unrest is not calmed in the situation that has arisen.