Over 100 garment factories closed in Ashulia amid unrest

Amid efforts to calm the ongoing unrest, around 45 garment factories in the Ashulia industrial area have been indefinitely closed, with 60 others declaring a general holiday starting today (Wednesday).

Of the 60, 25 factories declared holiday on “no work no pay” basis.

Md Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, confirmed the closure of the garment factories.

He said that the closures were implemented under Section 13(1) of the labour law, which allows for "no work, no pay" conditions.

According to Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, the owner can partially or fully close a branch or division of an establishment due to an “illegal” strike and the workers participating in the strike will not receive any wages.

BGMEA sources said that 61.05 percent factories have paid their workers‍‍` salaries for the month of August.

Khairul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of the Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union Centre, explained that under Section 13(1), workers will not be paid while the factories remain closed, which could further fuel their frustration.

Yesterday afternoon, several factories in the Jamgara, Narsinghpur, and Pukurpar areas were vandalised by angry workers. In response, factory owners decided to shut the factories today (Wednesday).