Gazipur factory closed sine die, workers protest for dues

A plastic products manufacturing factory in Gazipur's Konabari, Polycon Ltd, has been declared shut for an indefinite period.

The management of the company, Polycon Ltd, today stated in a notice that they have decided to shut the factory for an indefinite period from today as the company struggled to pay for bank loans, arrears, and electricity and gas bills over the past two and a half years.

The notice, signed by Polycon Ltd Executive Officer Faisal Jahir also clarified that the company failed to import raw materials for over a year due to the dollar crisis. "Also, since June 2023, the production of the factory has decreased by 80% due to severe load shedding."

The factory closure, however, sparked agitation among the workers immediately. They gathered on the factory premises in the morning and demanded reopening.

The workers claimed that the factory has been shut without any prior announcement, while their salaries for four months of last year – January, February, November and December – have remained outstanding.

"Our salaries for four months remain unpaid. We did our duty yesterday as well. This morning, we came to the office entrance and saw the indefinite closure notice," a worker, Aminul Islam, told The Business Standard.

However, in the notice, the owners stated that all outstanding salaries will be cleared in phases within the next three months.

Faisal Jahir, executive director of the factory, could not be reached over the phone immediately despite several attempts.

Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Konabari Zone Inspector Md Morshed Jaman said they have communicated with the factory owners.  "Workers will be given their salaries for November 2024 on Sunday. On 13 January, the owners will sit with the workers over payment of other arrears."

He said the situation has turned back to normal, and industrial police personnel are currently stationed in front of the factory.