Over 150 factories shut in Ashulia, 50 injured in clashes

More than 150 garment factories in the industrial belt of Ashulia declared general holidays on Thursday following clashes between workers and police over a nine-point demand, including setting the minimum wage at Tk30,000 and ending the blacklisting of workers.

At least 50 people were injured in the clashes, while workers from around 150 factories left their workplaces and joined demonstrations across different parts of the industrial area.

In the morning, workers of several garment factories, including Next Collection, Sterling Style, Setara and Yagi Bangladesh, affiliated with Ha-Meem Group in the Government Market area along the Baipail-Abdullahpur highway, stopped work and staged a walkout.

The authorities subsequently declared general holidays at the factories.

When workers attempted to demonstrate after leaving their workplaces, police chased them away. Police also detained a worker named Rakib Hasan of Ha-Meem Group's Next Wash Ltd.

Following the detention, rumours spread that a large number of workers had been arrested, prompting demonstrations in Jamgora, Nishchintapur, Beron, Zirabo, Tongabari and Gouripur, among other areas.

Workers from several factories that had remained operational also joined the protests, leaving their workplaces and demanding the release of arrested workers.

Work at at least 150 garment factories had been suspended temporarily to bring the situation under control. He said nearly 50 people were injured in clashes between police and workers at several locations, said Ashulia Industrial Police-1 Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan.

Officer-in-Charge Tarikul Islam of Ashulia Police Station, said the situation had returned to normal after noon.

Meanwhile, five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel, along with additional police members, were deployed in Ashulia to prevent any untoward incidents.

Additional police were stationed near factories and at important locations across the industrial area after noon. Industrial police and BGB members were also patrolling the area with armoured vehicles.

Dhaka-19 MP Dewan Mohammad Salahuddin Babu said any attempt at sabotage during the labour unrest in Savar and Ashulia would be dealt with politically.

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Some members of a banned organisation had been involved in the labour movement over the past two weeks, Superintendent of Police of Dhaka District Shamima Parveen said.

She alleged that they were operating covertly in different areas and seeking to destabilise the country. Police were trying to arrest them, she said.

The police superintendent also said they had spoken with labour leaders, who told them they had no connection with the movement and wanted to return to work.

Owners consider indefinite closure of 210 factories

Meanwhile, owners of 210 factories are considering keeping factories in labour unrest-prone areas of Savar and Ashulia closed indefinitely as continued unrest has disrupted production.

BKMEA Vice-President Mohammad Rashed said factory operations had become difficult as workers were refusing to work while incidents of vandalism were also taking place. Discussions over wages were continuing at the same time, leaving owners concerned about how to pay workers' salaries.

An indefinite closure of 210 factories could put the employment and income of many workers at risk.

Industry owners warned that prolonged production disruptions could affect not only factory owners and workers' incomes but also international buyers' confidence and the country's export earnings.