The majority of Ashulia’s apparel manufacturers reopened on Tuesday, but there have been major traffic problems as a result of worker protests demanding unpaid wages that have resulted in road blockades in multiple locations.
While several factories resumed operations, some workers—especially those from the Birds Group—continued their demonstrations by blocking the Nabinagar-Chandra road in Baipail since yesterday morning, according to an Industrial Police source. “The workers have stated unequivocally that they will continue the blockade until all of their outstanding debts—including salaries—are settled,” said Md Kamal Hossain, an inspector at the Ashulia police station.
According to Ayyub Ali, Officer-in-Charge of Savar Highway Police Station, there is extreme traffic congestion as a result of the continuous demonstrations on both sides of the Nabinagar-Chandra route and along the Dhaka-Aricha highway, especially between Nabinagar and Bishmail.
With the exception of AR Jeans Producer Limited, which has announced a general leave with pay, all factories in the Ashulia region are operating as usual. A holiday has also been declared by Mango Tex Ltd in the Tongibari region; other manufacturers, such as Mandal Knitwear, Natural Denim, and Natural Indigo, are still open.
All factories in the regions of Jamgara and Narsinghpur are operating, with the exception of Setara, which has instituted a paid general leave program. All other factories in the vicinity are still open, however the Skyline factory in the Baipail district has also announced a holiday.
Meanwhile, employees of TNZ Group’s Apparel Plus have blocked roads in Gazipur’s Board Bazar district in protest over unpaid compensation from a closed plant that they say have not yet been settled. Industry sources said that all other factories in Gazipur are still operating despite these protests.
Authorities are attempting to control the demonstrations and resume regular traffic in the impacted districts as the situation evolves.
