50 Gazipur factories closed amid workers' protests
Authorities of about 50 factories in Gazipur's Tongi, Konabari BSCIC and Kaliakair areas closed operations today (2 September) in the face of workers' protests.
"There were reports of vandalism in several factories. Later, some factories closed operations for the day amid unrest," Gazipur Industrial Police Additional Superintendent of Police Imran Ahmed said, adding that workers staged protests with several demands.
Authorities of the industrial police, however, did not clarify whether the factories would be closed tomorrow or for a definite period.
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Hemayet Uddin, deputy general manager of Tazkia Apparels Limited, said workers gathered in front of the factory this morning and vandalised the main gate.
"We then declared a holiday for the day to avoid further vandalism and damage," he told The Business Standard.
Gazipur District President of Garment Workers and Tailors' Federation Mosharaf Hossain told TBS that all factories of Konabari BSCIC were given a holiday today.
"A third party seems to be involved with the garment workers. Because, yesterday, the workers presented 13 demands, 10 of which the factory owners then accepted. The workers were satisfied. So, who is fueling these protests today?"
This morning, a group of male garment workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways in Gazipur and Bogura Bypass areas protesting against women being given priority in factory jobs.
In the face of labour protests in Gazipur and Ashulia, the Bangladesh Army, police and industrial police in Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur will launch a joint operation tonight to safeguard the ready-made garment (RMG) industries.
Earlier today, workers seeking jobs were protesting in Ashulia by blocking the Nabinagar-Chandra and Baipail-Abdullahpur roads, demanding equal employment opportunities for men and women in RMG factories, among other demands.
At least 30 factories in the area were forced to declare a holiday amid the protests, according to the industrial police.
