Fresh labour unrest has erupted in the Ashulia industrial belt in Gazipur, leading to the closure of over a hundred garment factories. The situation escalated on Tuesday (November 10) afternoon following protests that began at two factories in the area, according to sources.

Origin of the Protests

Witnesses and factory sources reported that workers from two factories in different parts of Ashulia started demonstrating on Tuesday afternoon. The protests brought production at these two factories to a halt. As news of the unrest spread, workers at neighbouring factories grew anxious, prompting many factory authorities to declare a closure for the day as a precautionary measure.

Holiday Declared at Over a Hundred Factories

Following the unrest, more than a hundred garment factories in Ashulia announced a holiday starting Wednesday morning (November 11). Factory authorities have informed workers that the factories will remain closed until the situation normalizes. This has left hundreds of thousands of workers without work. Many workers who arrived at factory gates in the morning were seen returning home after learning of the closure.

Administrative Response

Industrial police and local administration are working to bring the situation under control. Additional police forces have been deployed in the area. An official from the industrial police stated that efforts are underway to resolve the issue through dialogue with factory owners and labour leaders. However, no official statement has been made yet regarding the specific reasons or demands behind the protests.

Unrest in the Industrial Belt

Ashulia is one of the country's largest industrial zones, housing hundreds of garment factories and employing hundreds of thousands of workers. Labour protests have been on the rise in the area recently, with workers demonstrating over various issues including wage increases and improved working conditions. The recurring unrest has disrupted production, causing concern among business owners.

Next Steps

Factory authorities and the administration are jointly monitoring the situation. Efforts are ongoing to resolve the matter through discussions with workers and to reopen the factories as soon as possible. However, it remains unclear when the situation will fully normalize and operations will resume. The administration has stated that the overall situation in the area remains under control.