The management of an Indian export-oriented readymade garment factory at Dhaka Export Processing Zone was declared closed for an indefinite period on Sunday following workers demonstration for service benefit. Witnesses said the workers of Alfa Patterns (Bangladesh) Ltd went to the factory in the morning and saw a notice on the factory main gate declaring closure of the unit for an indefinite period. Workers said factories outside of the EPZ were giving service benefit but they were not getting it. ‘It is a discrimination against us,’ said a female worker of the factory. Aman Ullah Changla, managing director of the factory, said the workers were illegally demanding service benefit. Without mentioning any name, he said, ‘The workers are doing these being misguided by conspirators.’ Abdus Sobhan, general manager of DEPZ, said according to the law the workers do not get service benefit but they were illegally demanding that. ‘It may be someone is misguiding the workers,’ he said. Kawser Sikder, deputy director of Ashulia Industrial police, said management of the factory sat several times but they could not reach any understanding. Later the management declared the unit closed.
