Garment Workers Resume Work as Unrest Eases
Garment workers in Gazipur have begun returning to work this morning as unrest in the ready-made garment sector shows signs of subsiding. Industrial activities have resumed, and military and law enforcement personnel are patrolling the factories to maintain order.
On Thursday (September 5), workers were seen entering their workplaces in Tongi Bisik, Bhogra Bypass, Bagher Bazar, and Mauna areas. According to Gazipur Industrial Police SP Sarwar Alam, the situation has been calm since the morning, with workers arriving in groups. Police forces, along with the Army, BGB, and other security personnel, are collaborating to prevent any disturbances.
The unrest escalated on Wednesday (September 4), when workers gathered at various locations to protest. Some factories were vandalized, but security forces quickly brought the situation under control. Protesters blocked roads in Gazipur, demanding equal employment rights for men and women. As a result, several factories in Ashulia were shut down, with at least 60 declaring a general holiday as protests spread.
In an emergency press conference on Wednesday, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Khandkar Rafiqul Islam announced that all garment factories would reopen on Thursday, with the support of law enforcement agencies. More than 100 factories had been closed due to the unrest, but they are expected to resume operations with enhanced security measures.
Comments