Staff Reporter :
Unrest in Bangladesh’s apparel factories continues despite multiple initiatives by the interim government to address the issues.
These disruptions, involving various forms of protests and work stoppages, threaten the stability of one of the country’s major foreign exchange earners, potentially harming the national economy.
Stakeholders stress that restoring normalcy in the garment sector is crucial for economic growth.
On Monday, hundreds of garment workers from Generation Next Garments took to the Tongi-Ashulia road to demand overdue wages, leading to several hours of halted traffic and public inconvenience.
Protesters claimed that the factory had been closed for two months, leaving them without salaries, which impacted their ability to pay for rent, groceries, and other essential expenses.
They had received unfulfilled promises of payment from the factory administration and decided to protest to demand their overdue wages, salary increases, and 15 other points.
Similarly, workers from Season Dresses Limited demonstrated for six hours on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, causing a severe traffic jam.
Their demands included payment of overdue wages, overtime dues, and leave allowances, with a particular grievance over the delayed payment of wages, which they insist should be provided during the first week of each month.
Industrial unrest in Ashulia, where 52 factories remain closed, has calmed after police intervention. However, many factories in areas such as Jamgora, Unique, Narsinghpur, and Nishchitpur are indefinitely closed, with others declaring holidays due to the protests.
Security forces, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the army, have been deployed to maintain order and prevent further unrest.
According to Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, 43 factories remain closed indefinitely, with another nine on general leave.
While many factories have resumed production, the situation remains fragile, with ongoing demands from workers and concerns over further unrest.