Worker unrest in Gazipur: 3 factories closed, 6 detained by Army

Several factories in Gazipur's Kaliakair, Sreepur, and Tongi areas have been shut down following worker protests over wage hikes and other demands. 

Thousands of factory workers took to the streets today (23 September), blocking the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways, causing significant traffic disruptions.

The police and army dispersed the workers and detained at least six people on charges of creating unrest.

The detainees are Khokon Mia, Sohag Mia, Nazmul Mia, Ujjal Hossain, Shakil Ahmed, and Mubarak Hossain.

The authorities have announced the closure of three factories in separate areas of Kaliakoir. The closed factories include Mahmud Denims Ltd. in the Safipur Bazaar area, Iku Knit in the Baktarapur area, and Cokola Food Products Limited.

According to Industrial Police and factory workers, workers at Kokola Food Products Limited in the Mouchak area of Kaliakoir joined work this morning. Around 10:30am, the workers suddenly began protesting inside the factory with 12 demands, including a minimum wage of Tk12,500, an attendance bonus of Tk800, and regular and annual leaves.

At one point, the agitated workers took positions on the Dhaka-Tangail highway and blocked the road. As the situation deteriorated, the factory management declared the factory closure. 

Despite the closure announcement, workers continued their protests outside the factory and blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway

Some workers attempted to forcefully enter the closed factory.

Upon receiving the news, Industrial Police, local police, and army personnel rushed to the scene, chased the workers away, and brought the situation under control. 

The army detained three individuals for entering the factory illegally and causing unrest. The army personnel then used a loudspeaker to instruct the workers to leave the factory premises.

Factory worker Abbas Uddin said that more than 5,000 workers work at their factory, and the minimum wage is Tk8,000. 

"We cannot make ends meet with this amount, including paying rent and living expenses. That's why we've been demanding a minimum wage of Tk12,500 for a long time, but the management has taken no action and refuses to listen to us," he said.

Inspector Nitai Chandra Sarkar of Gazipur Industrial Police (Zone-2) said, "After the factory was declared closed, some unruly workers forcefully entered the factory, and the army detained a few of them. The workers also briefly blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, but the situation is now under control."

Meanwhile, workers of a factory named Seasons Dresses Limited in Tongi's Ershad Nagar area protested on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, demanding three months of unpaid wages.

Additionally, workers of Golden Repeat Garments in Bager Bazar blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh road as part of their protest. 

They entered the factory at 8am but did not start work rather gathered at the assembly point and demanded an increase in their attendance bonus, among other demands. By 9am they blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.

The workers presented a 12-point list of demands inside the factory. When the factory management did not make a decision on their demands, the workers blocked the highway. 

Later, the management accepted eight out of their 12 demands, including attendance bonuses, tiffin bills, and night shift bills. Despite these concessions, the workers continued to block the highway, insisting on the acceptance of the remaining four demands.

Inspector Suman Mia of Gazipur Industrial Police's Bagher Bazar zone said that the workers have been protesting on the highway since morning, causing severe traffic congestion from Chandana Chowrasta to Mauna.

Additional Superintendent Md Imran Ahmed of Gazipur Industrial Police said, "I have been informed that the army has detained four people from Kaliakair. More detentions may have occurred. They are trying to arrest workers responsible for causing unrest in other locations as well."