Most Savar–Ashulia factories working peacefully, 55 remain closed amid wage unrest
Factory authorities have kept 55 factories in Savar and Ashulia closed amid ongoing worker unrest over demands including a minimum wage of 30,000 taka. As of 11:30am on Sunday, no protests were reported anywhere in the areas. Workers at most factories were working peacefully.
According to Ashulia Industrial Police-1, of the closed factories, 36 were shut under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 14 were closed indefinitely, and five were closed by verbal announcement.
On Sunday morning, workers at various factories in Savar and Ashulia arrived at the scheduled time and joined work. However, workers at five factories sat idle without working.
Notices hung in front of the closed factories said normal operations were not possible because of the ongoing movement for a wage increase, violence, illegal strikes and an unstable situation, and that the factories had therefore been declared closed.
Police and eyewitnesses said members of the police and BGB were on duty in front of various factories and at important points to keep the overall situation stable.
At around 10:30am, Ashulia Industrial Police-1 Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan said 55 factories had so far been closed because of instability in the industrial area. Workers at five more factories were sitting without working.
The SP added that workers at all the remaining factories were working peacefully. No trouble or disorder had come to their notice anywhere.
