At least 55 factories in Ashulia industrial area remain closed amid workers protest and dissatisfaction.
Among them, 46 are closed under section 13 (1) of Bangladesh Labor Act 2006 (no work-no pay) and 13 have announced general holidays.
Apart from this, normal operations are continuing in other factories in the industrial area including Dhaka EPZ.
Labour leaders say that many factory workers arrived at the factories in the morning, but returned after finding the factories to be closed.
According to Superintendent of Industrial Police Mohammad Sarwar Alam, the factories that have stopped production are mainly located on Bypail-Abdullahpur road in Ashulia.
However, even if 55 factories are closed, not all of them are due to their workers protesting. Workers of only 10/12 factories are protesting which is causing unrest in chaos in the neighbouring factories, said the SP.
It is also reported that among the factories which are open, workers have stopped work in some factories due to various demands.
However, there was no news of any roadblock or any untoward incident anywhere in the industrial area today, added the SP.
In order to strengthen security, patrolling activities are ongoing in the industrial areas with additional members of law enforcement forces deployed in front of various factories.
BGMEA says the number is 35
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) says production operations have been halted in 35 factories in Ashulia.
Among them, 29 factories are closed under Bangladesh Labour Act Section 13(1). The number of factories which were closed after opening in the morning or announced general holiday is six.
Factories closed under Section 13(1) of the Labor Act include Hamim Group, Anant Group, Ducati Apparels, NASA Group, New Age Group, Bando Design, Yagi Bangladesh Limited, Envoy Group, Vintage Garments, Generation Next.
In addition, the factories that have announced paid holidays or work is halted include Sidko Group, The Rose Dresses ltd, FnF trend Fashion, Trousers Line Ltd, Wucho Fashion, Fashion Forum Ltd.
BGMEA said that today 407 factories are open in Savar, Ashulia, Jirani area, on the contrary 35 are closed and in Gazipur 876 factories are open whereas four are closed.
The number of factories that remain open in Narayanganj, Dhaka and Chattogram are 209, 302 and 350. No factories are closed in these areas.
According to BGMEA, 267 (98.16%) factories in Ashulia area have paid their salaries for the month of August, and 5 (1.83%) factories have not paid their salaries.
