Unrest in Savar industrial area: 60 garment factories closed, 12 cases filed

Sixty readymade garment factories in Ashulia of Savar remained closed due to a workers' strike for a wage increase on Sunday.

Meanwhile, workers at around 10 open factories sat idle after clocking in in Ashulia, while others left for home. In addition, several factories declared a general holiday as many did not join work, according to Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Industrial Police.

There were more than a hundred factories closed for an indefinite period in Ashulia alone on Saturday, apparently in accordance with Section 13 (1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006. 

According to Superintendent of Police (Savar Circle) Shahidul Islam, the owners of factories impacted by the current protests and vandalism have filed 12 cases accusing about 3,500 people, including 16 named individuals. The police have arrested five people thus far, he added.

During visits to Jamgara, Narsinghpur and Nischintapur areas, this correspondent saw that some factories had put up closure notices on their entrances, citing the Labour Act 2006.

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were patrolling different streets of the locality, with water cannons on standby.
Garment workers in Savar, Ashulia and other areas began protesting on October 29 to demand a raise in their minimum wage, from Tk8,000 to Tk23,000 to be exact.

On November 7, after a minimum wage of Tk12,500 was announced by the government, workers resumed their protests by rejecting the decision.