Workers protest as RMG factory in Banani shuts down without 'prior notice'

Hundreds of garment workers protested the closure of a ready-made garment factory in the capital's Banani area yesterday alleging that they received no prior notice to this end.

More than 300 workers of Apparels Industries Limited blocked the road in front of the Sainik Club around 8:30am for over an hour, causing a long tailback along the Banani-Airport Road and nearby areas as traffic came to a standstill.

Ariful Islam, assistant commissioner of Mohakhali traffic zone, said, "The garment workers alleged that the authorities hung the closure notice on the main gate of the factory without paying the April salary to the workers and staff."

The agitated workers later freed the road after the police arrived on the scene and requested them to clear the area.

While the workers alleged they received no prior notice, Apparels Industries Limited Managing Director Md Ashraf Ali Khan in a notice issued on 2 May stated that the factory will discontinue operations from 4 May.

According to the notice, workers had initiated an "illegal work stoppage" on 30 March demanding Eid bonuses. The prolonged work stoppage resulted in the company's running buyers cancelling all their orders, causing significant financial losses. The company was unable to pay bonuses to its workers before Eid and has not received any new orders from the buyers since then.

The notice further states that the company has been struggling to operate its business by providing various subsidies and bearing losses. However, the current situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the company's utility bills have remained unpaid, leading to the disconnection of utilities.

"Therefore, we are hereby announcing the closure of the factory's operations effective 4 May 2024," it read.

The notice concludes by stating that all legal dues will be paid through the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers Association.

Owners of the factory could not be reached for comments.