The situation in Ashulia’s industrial area, which has been the focal point of protests by ready-made garment (RMG) workers demanding annual increment hikes, has shown signs of improvement. As the week began, production activities resumed normally in most factories, despite the ongoing unrest.
Workers in some apparel factories, however, continued their strikes, rejecting the Government’s announcement of a 4 per cent annual increment and demanding a more substantial 15 per cent increase. According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), production was halted in 10 factories. In four of these, workers either walked out or staged protests upon reporting to work, while five others were closed under the “no work, no pay” provision of the Bangladesh Labour Act. One factory remains closed but is providing paid leave for its workers.
Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, the Superintendent of Police for Industrial Police-1, reported that while disturbances occurred in 7 to 8 factories, discussions led to workers resuming duties in half of those establishments. He noted a calmer atmosphere in Ashulia compared to previous days, with ongoing efforts to stabilise the situation through engagement with all stakeholders.
Amid the protests, reports of worker layoffs have surfaced, with approximately 300 workers laid off across three factories. These layoffs were confirmed by both the Industrial Police and labor leaders, who criticized the approach of factory owners. Khairul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union Centre, expressed concern that layoffs are being used to suppress worker movements, further straining relations between employers and employees.
Labour leaders argue that the demand for an increment hike is justified, particularly in light of rising inflation and the increased cost of living. They emphasized that factory owners should have proactively addressed these concerns to prevent the deteriorating relationship with workers.
In a related development, five individuals, including three labour leaders, were arrested during the unrest. The detained leaders—Md Sarowar Hossain, president of the Bangladesh Garment Workers Unity Federation, Md Mahbub Alam Bacchu, and Faridul Islam—were taken into custody amid accusations of inciting protests. They were released about 24 hours later after giving an undertaking not to incite further unrest.
The situation remains delicate, with police indicating that future involvement in disruptive activities could lead to further detentions. Local authorities are working to mediate between factory owners and workers to restore stability in the industrial zone.
