Six garment factories in Gazipur shut amid wage protests

Six factories in three industrial areas of Gazipur declared a one-day general holiday on Tuesday after workers staged protests demanding higher wages and attempted to persuade employees at neighbouring factories to stop work.

Tensions flared in Kashimpur, Jarun and Naojor around 10:30am on November 10. Police were deployed to bring the situation under control. Workers left their workplaces after factory authorities announced the holiday.

According to police and local sources, workers at Ripon Knitwear in Jarun, Konabari, began a work stoppage and demonstration in the morning, demanding higher wages.

At one point, they went to nearby factories and tried to bring workers out of their workplaces. Employees at several other establishments also stopped working and came outside. Police arrived at the scene following reports of the unrest and brought the situation under control.

Meanwhile, after reports of labour unrest spread in Naojor, workers at several factories, including ICCL, and nearby establishments walked out. They later took up positions on the Dhaka-Tangail highway. The protesters also attempted to persuade workers at other factories to leave their workplaces.

In response to the situation, authorities declared a one-day holiday at six factories in Kashimpur, Jarun and Naojor. However, the number of factories covered by the closure could increase depending on developments, relevant sources said.

Mohammad Amzad Hossain, superintendent of police for Gazipur Industrial Zone-2, said workers at two factories in Kashimpur and Jarun had staged protests and subsequently tried to bring employees from nearby factories outside.

He said six factories in several areas had declared a holiday in response to the situation.

The workers returned home peacefully after the holiday was announced, he added. Police have been deployed at key locations across the industrial zone to prevent any untoward incidents.