On Thursday, 19th September, twenty-two ready-made garment companies in Dhaka’s Ashulia industrial belt remained closed due to the worker unrest that has continued for the previous two weeks.
The Industrial Police claim that all of the area’s units are working and that workers are involved in productive activity, with the exception of 22 factories. Since the beginning of the week, the industrial area’s situation has been gradually improving.
However, employees at a number of manufacturers, including Medlar, Setara, and Bando Apparels, decided not to go to work because of repeated pleas they received at home. Insiders said that discussions to resolve the issues were still ongoing.
The industrial police, labour movement leaders, and industry insiders all anticipate that the current stable situation will continue and that soon the area will be humming with activity once more.
According to sources in the industrial police, the BGMEA and factory owners are still in negotiations over reopening the closed enterprises in the area.
“The workers’ desire to resume their jobs is the cause of the disturbance in front of the closed factories; they are eager to get back to work.” When the industries reopen, the minor issues can also be resolved through communication,” an Industrial Police officer said.
He went on to say that similar thoughts are also being expressed by labour leaders.
