RMG unrest: All factories set to reopen today as calm anticipated

Although the situation at the Ashulia industrial zone remained tense today, the tenth consecutive day of worker unrest, there were no reports of attacks or vandalism and the situation was relatively better compared to previous days.

In response, factory owners in a meeting with the army, industrial police, intelligence agencies, reached a unanimous decision to keep all factories in Ashulia open today.

Abdullah Hil Rakib, senior vice president of BGMEA, told The Business Standard that factory owners who were forced to close today attended the meeting. 

Industry sources said 14 factories in Ashulia did not open today. Also, workers of several large industrial groups clocked in this morning but left without working like they did in previous days. 

Earlier on Friday, after two rounds of meetings with industrial owners, local political leaders, trade union representatives, and law enforcement agencies, many factory owners decided to keep factories open.

However, tensions arose when workers at several factories on the Baipail-Abdullahpur road in the Narsinghpur area started leaving due to their demands. 

This forced at least 50 more factories to declare holidays today. They included factories from the Sharmin Group, Ha-Meem Group, New Age Group, and Ananta Group. 

About the meeting, Abdullah Hil Rakib said, "It was agreed that from tomorrow [8 September], 20 to 25 law enforcement personnel will be stationed at each of these factories to ensure security and provide some relief to the industrial owners." 

He said they have decided not to go for the "no work, no pay" policy keeping in mind the welfare of the workers.

He added that there were no disturbances from outsiders in the industrial zone today, hoping for normalcy returning from tomorrow.

Abdul Kader Azad, managing director of Ha-Meem Group, said he assured workers of addressing their demands earlier in the day, but workers left the factory before lunch.

Labour leaders said a lack of their involvement in the ongoing discussions with BGMEA and policymakers is a major reason for the unresolved issues. They claim that their limited control is contributing to the ongoing unrest.

Khayrul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union Centre, told TBS that grassroots leaders have minimal participation in discussions. 

Mintu also acknowledged that, since the student protests, the role of labour leaders has diminished, with some workers even expressing that they do not need union leaders. 

A BGMEA director told TBS that while only four  or five factories in the area might have issues, the unrest has spread to at least 150 factories, severely impacting the industry. 

He warned that if the situation continues, the sector could face significant damage, with orders potentially shifting to neighbouring countries and buyers possibly turning away from Bangladeshi factories. 

The director called for intervention from government policymakers to address the situation.

Meanwhile, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem warned that certain groups are trying to exploit the current instability to undermine the apparel sector. 

In a press meet organised by the Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he noted that during the crisis in Sri Lanka, orders shifted to Bangladesh, and he expressed concerns that similar motivations might be at play now, with some potentially seeking to divert orders to their own countries.

"I prefer not to name the country, but there are indications that some might be aiming to divert orders there," he added, noting that several reports on this issue have appeared in newspapers from that country.

Hatem urged both political and labour leaders to play their part in addressing the unrest. He advised workers not to become pawns in any provocations.

'Instigators identified' 

Industry sources and intelligence agencies have identified at least 120 individuals involved in the recent unrest, including labour leaders and local activists from BNP, Chhatra League, and Awami League.

Sources in the law enforcement said they have identified several individuals involved in inciting unrest. Actions have already been taken against some of them, and efforts to identify others are ongoing.

They said at least 60 to 70 individuals, primarily local BNP activists, are aggressively seeking to enter jhut (fabric scraps) business in various areas, including Ashulia, Gazipur, Sreepur, and Baluka.