Worker unrest continues intermittently in garment factories in Savar’s Ashulia region despite concessions to previous demands. Authorities claim that new demands are raised after previous ones are met, allegedly fueled by disruptive elements posing as workers. To address the persistent unrest, a dedicated platform involving factory owners from Ashulia is being formed to foster a conducive environment for uninterrupted production and harmonious labor-management relations.

This decision was made on Saturday during a meeting of garment factory owners from Ashulia, held at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in Uttara, Dhaka. BGMEA administrator Anwar Hossain chaired the meeting, which was attended by 31 factory owners.

Enamul Haque Khan Bablu, managing director of Ananta Group and a member of BGMEA’s auxiliary committee, shared that the meeting focused on understanding the root causes of the recurring disruptions in Ashulia, which stand in contrast to the smooth operations in factories nationwide. Despite offering better facilities and higher standards, the region’s garment factories frequently face unrest, prompting the decision to create a platform for closer collaboration and problem resolution.

Meanwhile, several garment factories in Ashulia observed work stoppages on Saturday. Disruptive incidents were reported, including vandalism at Donglian Fashion Limited and Gildan Activewear Bangladesh Limited, two factories with foreign ownership. Industrial police arrested two workers on charges of inciting unrest and damaging property. Despite the turmoil, factories like Ha-Meem Group maintained normal operations.

Sources from industrial police, factory authorities, and workers confirmed that the unrest at Donglian Fashion Limited began with protests from laid-off workers, escalating to vandalism. The unrest then spread to Gildan Activewear, where similar incidents occurred. Law enforcement dispersed the protestors and arrested two individuals for creating disorder.

Worker stoppages also continued in several factories, including Sterling Creations Limited, Crosswear Limited, IDS, HR Textile, and Fashion Forum. In response, authorities declared temporary closures in four factories and invoked the “No Work, No Pay” clause under labor law.

Workers on strike cited soaring inflation and rising living costs as the primary reasons behind their demand for a 15% annual salary increment. While workers allege genuine grievances, factory owners suspect domestic and international interference aimed at destabilizing the industry.

Superintendent of Industrial Police-1, Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, confirmed the arrests and ongoing negotiations to resolve the issues through dialogue. He emphasized that the authorities are actively engaging all stakeholders to restore stability. Security measures have been intensified, with law enforcement, army personnel, RAB, BGB, and APBN deployed alongside intelligence monitoring to prevent any untoward incidents.