Wage protests shut dozens of factories in Ashulia

Garment workers continued protests in the Ashulia industrial belt on Wednesday, demanding a higher minimum wage, forcing dozens of factories to suspend operations and triggering clashes with police.

The unrest spread across several industrial areas, including Ashulia and Hemayetpur in Savar, as workers staged work stoppages and attempted to block roads, disrupting production and heightening tensions.

Workers at factories in Hemayetpur and Jamgora in Ashulia initially reported for their regular shifts in the morning. However, employees at several factories later stopped work to press their demands.

Around 9:30 am, authorities at nearly 50 factories in Ashulia declared general holidays following the work stoppages.

After leaving their workplaces, some workers took to the streets and attempted to block roads. Police fired tear gas and sound grenades to disperse them, leading to several rounds of clashes and chases.

Although the situation in Ashulia later became relatively calm, tensions persisted in parts of the industrial belt.

Similar unrest erupted around Padmar Mor in Hemayetpur after 10:00 am, when workers from several factories gathered on the streets and attempted to block roads.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters, while workers and law enforcers remained in a standoff in the area.

The protesters also demanded the closure of nearby factories that had remained operational.

No casualties had been reported as of the latest available information.

Industrial Police-1 Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan told Daily Sun around 1:00 pm that 40 to 50 factories had declared general holidays.

He said the overall situation in the industrial areas was calm and production continued at other factories. Law enforcement agencies remained on alert to prevent further unrest.

However, a senior official of an Ashulia-based garment manufacturing group, speaking to Daily Sun on condition of anonymity, said most factories in the industrial belt had shut down, with only a handful remaining operational.

"We have also shut down our factories. Sharmin Group declared a holiday early in the day. A few factories, including Ha-Meem and Ananta, are still operational," he said.

Expressing frustration over the unrest, the official said protests that began at just eight to 10 factories had spread to other establishments, disrupting production across the industrial belt.

"Our workers want to work, but we are being forced to shut down our factories for security reasons. The government and police have completely failed to manage the situation," he said.

"Despite knowing the source of the problem, they have failed to bring the situation at a handful of factories under control. We are the ones suffering in the process," he added.