Savar Correspondent
The suicide rate has risen alarmingly in the industrial area of Ashulia over the past six months. According to records, Ashulia Police Station has documented 159 suicide cases during this period. Additionally, several bodies were buried without informing the police.
As part of preparations for the upcoming national election, the interim government has launched a voter list update program. Organizing a free and fair parliamentary election is a significant challenge for the government, and one of the major obstacles is the registration of new voters. Although the voter update process is in full swing in Savar, many potential new voters are facing difficulties due to issues with birth registration.
The Savar-Ashulia industrial zone, home to over 30 lakh residents, mostly garment workers and their families from lower-middle and low-income groups, relies heavily on the Savar Upazila Health Complex for medical services.
In a tragic accident caused by a high-speed overtaking competition between two buses, four members of the same family lost their lives when an ambulance caught fire in Savar. At least seven others were injured in the incident.
The entire first half of the year was marked by intense protests by garment workers in the industrial zones. Starting in June with demands for wage increases, and briefly pausing in July, the protests resumed from August to December with additional demands. As a result, the streets of the Savar-Ashulia industrial areas remained under the control of the workers for most of 2024. While the situation has currently stabilized, workers are planning to resume protests in the second week of January to push for a 9% increment proposal and resolve issues surrounding annual leave payments.
Garment workers in Ashulia-Savar are preparing for fresh protests, demanding a resolution to several issues, including complications surrounding the 9% increment proposal and financial entitlements for annual leave.