300 Factories in Savar-Ashulia and Gazipur Declare Holidays Amid Labour Unrest

Staff Correspondent

The movement of ready-made garment workers over various demands, including setting a minimum wage of Tk 30,000, has spread to the Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur industrial areas of Dhaka. Authorities have declared a holiday in about 300 factories in these areas on Sunday due to worker dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, traffic movement has been disrupted in the capital’s Mirpur due to protests by workers and clashes with police.

Police have temporarily closed three Metrorail stations to control the situation and arrested 28 people.

According to industrial police sources, 177 ready-made garment factories in Savar and Ashulia industrial areas have been declared a holiday for Sunday.

Md. Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, Superintendent of Police of Ashulia Industrial Area of ​​Industrial Police-1, said in the afternoon that the workers have been protesting for various demands since morning. In this situation, the authorities of the factories declared a holiday.

Meanwhile, workers from several factories gathered in the afternoon and blocked the Hemayetpur area of ​​the Dhaka-Aricha highway, disrupting traffic on the road. The police are working to control the situation, the industrial police official said.

The Gazipur industrial area has also been affected by the worker unrest. Amjad Hossain, Superintendent of Police of Industrial Police-2, said that a holiday has been declared in more than 100 factories throughout the day on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a factory warehouse and a law enforcement vehicle were set on fire in the Chandra Palli Bidyut area of ​​Kaliakair Upazila at noon. The incident took place amid protests by workers and highway blockades.

Meanwhile, ready-made garment workers have been protesting in various areas of Mirpur in the capital since morning demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000. The protest, which started at Mirpur 10 roundabout, later spread to surrounding areas including Mirpur 11 and 12.

The clash between the protesting workers and the police began around 11:30 am. Traffic movement on various roads in Mirpur was disrupted during the clash that lasted until around 2 pm. This caused suffering to working people, passengers, students and parents.

As the situation escalated, Mirpur 10, Mirpur 11 and Pallabi Metrorail stations were temporarily closed around noon. This disrupted road and metro rail communication. Later, the police said that 28 people were arrested in connection with the clash with the workers.