Garment workers' protest-vandalism, holiday announced in 46 factories

Garment factories of Tongi in Gazipur and Ashulia in Savar were affected by labor protests throughout the day. The authorities have declared a holiday in at least 46 factories in Ashulia of Gazipur, Tongi and Savar in connection with the protest and vandalism by blocking roads on various demands. However, the police, factory owners and labor leaders say that such a situation has arisen due to the fuel of a third party.

According to the police-workers and local sources, the garment factory workers of Bisik area of ​​Tongir joined their factories on Monday morning. At around 9:30 am, hundreds of laid-off workers took a stand at the gates of 11 garment factories. They called upon the factory workers to join the movement with them.

At that time, the workers working in the factory refused to respond to their calls. Meanwhile, the dismissed workers ransacked 11 factories. In order to prevent vandalism in their own factories, the workers of some factories chased each other with the dismissed workers. Later, the factory authorities declared a holiday in those factories to avoid vandalism. At least two dismissed workers were injured.

The factories which declared holiday are – Tongir Bisik Area Limited Tosi Knit Fabrics Limited, National Composite Limited, Patriot Eco Apparel Limited, Belisima Apparels Limited, Jeans & Polo Limited, Tengon Garments Limited, Radisson Garments Limited, Sumi Apparels Limited, RBS Garments Limited, Garden Textiles Limited and Tajkia Apparels Limited.

On the other hand, the workers gathered in front of various factories on Ashulia DEPZ and Bypail-Abdullahpur road from this morning and started protesting. At one stage, the agitating workers blocked Nabinagar-Chandra and Baipail-Abdullahpur roads by building barricades and started pelting bricks at various factories.

This caused severe traffic jams on two important roads, spreading tension in the region. In this situation, at least 35 factories in different areas of Ashulia have been declared holiday by the concerned authorities.

At one stage of the workers' protest, industrial police and army personnel arrived at the scene and explained to the workers by removing the barricades on the Bypail-Abdullahpur road and normalizing traffic on the road.

Mosharf Hossain, president of Gazipur Zola of Bangladesh Garments Workers and Tailors Federation, said that all factories of Konabari BSIC have been given holiday today. A third party is involved with the garment workers. Yesterday they had 13 claims. In front of everyone, the owner accepted 10 demands. The workers were also satisfied. The question is whose fuel is this movement today.

Superintendent of Police of Ashulia Industrial Police-1. Sarwar Alam said today's workers are agitating to demand jobs. In addition, there are several other demands, including the demand for proportional employment of men and women in garment factories. We managed to clear the blockade from Bypail-Abdullahpur road with the help of army personnel, but there is still a barricade in front of DEPZ. Due to the situation, at least 30 to 35 factories located on both sides of the Bypail-Abdullahpur road have been declared closed. We are continuing to try to resolve the issue, added the official.

Incidentally, BGMEA president Khandkar Rafiqul Islam said that the army, police and industrial police will start a joint operation in Dhaka's Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur on Monday night for the security of the garment industry. After the meeting with the Home Affairs Advisor at the secretariat in the afternoon, he informed the reporters about this.

Earlier, the top leaders of BGMEA and BKMEA met with the Home Affairs Advisor of the Interim Government, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. The meeting decided to start the operation.

Bangladesh /FM