Despite thick security blanket, at least 60 factories in Ashulia closed amid workers' protest
By morning, the situation had returned to normal. As of 6pm, no blockades were reported on roads in the area
Despite the start of joint operations by the army and police, about 60-70 garment factories were forced to close today (3 September) in the face of workers' protests.
On Monday night, army and police initiated a joint operation in the industrial zones of Savar, Ashulia, and Gazipur to restore order after more than a hundred apparel factories were forced to shut down, with some being attacked by outsiders and protesting workers over various demands.
By morning, the situation had returned to normal. As of 6pm, no blockades were reported on roads in the area.
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But protests once again were sparked in the noon, prompting the authorities of 60-70 garment factories to declare a holiday.
Talking to The Business Standard, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Senior Vice President Abdullah Hil Rakib said, "After lunch, a group of factory workers, along with outsiders, blocked the roads and threw bricks at various factories. This led to factories being forced to declare a holiday."
Rakib mentioned that workers from around 10 to 12 factories were involved in the unrest in the Ashulia area this afternoon.
Bangladesh Garments Sramik Oikya Federation President Md Sarwar Hossain told The Business Standard that the workers of a factory had been demonstrating for several days to press home their demands.
"They demand an end to persecution of workers by factory staff and unfair dismissal of workers. They also demand an increase in tiffin and night bills. The workers worked till noon but stopped working after lunch.
"Later, when the factory authorities declared a holiday, the workers came out and went in front of other factories, and those factories also declared a holiday," Sarwar added.
Amid such a situation, the BGMEA board met with the director general of the National Security Intelligence (NSI), seeking support to identify the groups responsible for inciting the unrest.
The NSI chief responded that they would need at least another day to identify those involved, as the recent regime change has led to new individuals coming to the forefront while others are concealing their activities, Rakib said.
Earlier today, a six-member delegation of business leaders called upon Chief Adviser of the interim government Dr Yunus requesting security for industries.
Meeting sources said the leaders emphasised that the continuation of such a situation would force lay-offs, which would only complicate matters further.
Meanwhile, members of police, army and BGB are on high alert and patrolling the industrial area, said Superintendent of Police of Industrial Police-1 Md Sarwar Alam.
In Ashulia, large factories of Hameem Group and Sharmin Group were functioning smoothly.
Meanwhile, workers from the Nassa Group and Al Muslim Group attempted to block the roads, but the joint forces led by the army successfully sent them home.
BGMEA senior VP Rakib also mentioned that the army-led joint forces were heading to Bishmail, where some workers had gathered on the road.
He added that a BGMEA delegation was also going to that area to address the situation.
Although the factories on both sides of the Baipail-Abdullahpur Road from Baipail to Jirabo declared a holiday, operations are normal in other factories including those in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone.
According to Industrial Police sources, there are a total of 1,863 factories in the region. Except for 60 to 70, the rest are in operation.
At the same time, vehicular movement on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway remained suspended for one hour today as some retrenched garment workers staged demonstration blocking the highway demanding reinstatement of their jobs, reports UNB.
Mosharraf Hossain, assistant superintendent of police of Tongi zone, said several hundred workers of different factories located in Bhogra Bypass, Choydana, Maleker Bari in Gazipur city staged demonstrations on the highway to press home their various demands, disrupting traffic movement for one hour in the morning.
However, later the situation was brought under control, he added.
