70 factories in Ashulia closed as garment workers protest for improved working conditions

Garment workers staged protests on Wednesday, leading to the closure of at least 70 factories in Ashulia, Dhaka.

The demonstrations were triggered by various demands from the workers, including better wages and improved working conditions.

The protests began around 8am when workers from the Baipal and Abdullahpur areas arrived at their factories.

By 8:30am, workers from closed factories gathered outside operational ones, leading to clashes and vandalism.

They threw bricks and stones, which led to the authorities closing the factories to avoid further escalation.

The unrest caused severe traffic congestion on local roads. The protests saw workers blocking roads and demanding better conditions, including higher allowances, increased maternity leave, and annual salary hikes.

The situation became tense when workers from different factories joined the demonstrations, leading to a broader impact on the industrial area.

Around 10am, workers outside the Palashbari area protested in front of the Pearl Garments Company Limited, blocking the Nabinnagar-Chandra highway, which resulted in significant traffic jams.

The army and local police were deployed to negotiate with the protesters and urged them to clear the road. However, the workers vowed to continue their protest until their demands were met.

In the Palashbari area, workers from the Gildan Bangladesh factory were also involved in the protests.

They expressed their frustration and urged for the protection of their workplace, which had been subject to attacks by outsiders. The factory was eventually closed after the attacks, with workers fearing for their safety.

Sharmin Group’s factory in Narsinghpur had to close down due to attacks by outsiders, with two minibuses reportedly vandalized.

Sharmin Group Managing Director Ismail Hossain said their factory had to shut down for the safety of their workers due to the escalating violence.

Sadhan Babu, general manager of The Rose Dresses Ltd in Jamgara, said their factory was forced to close after nearby factory workers joined the protests, even though they had started work in the morning. The lack of security presence was cited as a reason for their decision to close.

Khairul Mamun Mintoo, legal secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Sweaters Workers Trade Union Center, highlighted the workers’ demands for gender equality in employment, job security, and better working conditions.

He attributed the unrest to conflicts within factory ownership and the control of the jute business, along with inadequate responses from the police and industrial security.

Ashulia Industrial Police-1 Superintendent Mohammad Sarwar Alam said that the initial protests led to the closure of at least 60 factories, but the situation in the area is now under control.