At least 60 factories in Ashulia closed amid workers’ protest

About 60 to 70 garment factories in Ashulia have been closed in the face of workers’ protest today (3 September) despite the start of joint operations of the army and police to ensure safety in the area.

However, the situation on the roads in the industrial area was normal as of 6pm and no blockade was reported in the area, according to police. 

Members of police, army and BGB are on high alert and patrolling the industrial area, said Superintendent of Police of Industrial Police-1 Md Sarwar Alam.

After the announcement of the start of a joint operation for the security of the garment industry, the overall situation in Ashulia was normal this morning, but due to the chaos caused by the workers’ protest since noon, the authorities of 60 to 70 garment factories were forced to declare a holiday in their factories. 

Although the factories on both sides of the Baipail-Abdullahpur Road from Baipail to Jirabo declared a holiday, operations are normal in other factories including those in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone.

According to Industrial Police sources, there are a total of 1,863 factories in the region. Except for 60 to 70, the rest are in operation.

Meanwhile, in Gazipur, vehicular movement on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway remained suspended for one hour today as some retrenched garment workers staged demonstration blocking the highway demanding reinstatement of their jobs, reports UNB.

Mosharraf  Hossain, assistant superintendent of police of Tongi zone, said several hundred workers of different factories located in Bhogra Bypass, Choydana, Maleker Bari in Gazipur city staged demonstrations on the highway to press home their various demands, disrupting traffic movement for one hour in the morning.

However, later the situation was brought under control, he added.