The readymade garment (RMG) factories of Ashulia, Savar, and Gazipur area will reopen on Thursday as the security forces assured that they will conduct strict joint drives at the industrial hubs from Wednesday night.
Moreover, the protesters who are not in front of factory machines will not be regarded as workers, but as criminals and the law enforcement agencies will take sufficient legal measures against them.
The industry insiders said that the genuine workers are not among the protesters, they are outsiders and fueled by vested interest groups. They urged security forces to take stricter actions against them.
In a meeting, past presidents, current board of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and prominent industrialists with representatives from Bangladesh Army, Police, Industrial Police, NSI, and DGFI urgently discussed the situation at the BGMEA Complex in the capital on Wednesday.
Just after the meeting, BGMEA president also briefed journalists at a press conference.
Meanwhile, approximately 170 factories are facing closure due to unrest in the industrial zones of Ashulia, Savar, and Gazipur on Wednesday.
BGMEA President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam said that the law enforcement agencies have assured the safety and security of the industrial zones, enabling factories to reopen Thursday morning.
He also said that the unrest has predominantly been instigated by outsiders, while internal issues within the factories are minimal and these criminals pose significant challenges to the smooth operation of factories.
BGMEA Senior Vice-President Abdullah Hil Rakib said that the current issues affect not only the apparel sector but also have implications for other industries, including pharmaceuticals.
He assured that the problems do not stem from internal workers as when factories manage to fend off one group of outsiders, large numbers often arrive to launch further attacks, leading to factory closures.
The BGMEA has requested the chief advisor’s intervention to safeguard the industry and the economy. They remain hopeful that he will communicate with law enforcement agencies to address the activities of these vandalizing groups.
Former FBCCI President AK Azad said that the unrest is fueled by outsiders, however, he mentioned that there might be some factories who are unable to pay wages.
He also said that if anyone needed it, BGMEA will finance and pay workers’ wages by forming a fund and his factory will contribute there.
He also urged the industrial police to act proactively.
Former BGMEA Senior vice-president Faisal Samad suggested setting up a command center at the BGMEA office.
Kafil Uddin said that the industrialists have their local enemies and they might be also responsible for such vandalism.
The manufacturers also said that some miscreants threw bricks at factories. Along with local miscreants, some disgruntled laid off workers may also be involved in these activities. They also said that they should institute a no work and no pay policy.
Colonel Mohiuddin said that they deploy several brigades of army at Baipail, Narshinghapur, and Narayanganj.
Security enforcement agencies urged the labour organizations to clear their stances regarding the unrest.
Meanwhile, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, Labour and Employment adviser said that the government is set to take immediate action to address the growing labor unrest, which officials believe is being fuelled by external influences.
“We’ve had multiple discussions with both the workers and factory owners regarding the unrest. The current protests lack a clear set of demands, leaving even the leaders puzzled. This suggests a significant involvement of external elements,” he added.
He pointed out that the usual participants in labour movements are noticeably absent, while an increasing number of outsiders have been observed.
He noted that in some instances, protests have been sparked by delayed wages, and in a few cases, factory owners have fled, leading to worker dissatisfaction.
The government has responded by offering soft loans to affected workers, with plans to expand this support.
However, Asif Mahmud expressed concern over the presence of outsiders at protest sites, particularly in factory clusters. “In some areas, we’ve seen incidents of vandalism, such as vehicle destruction, carried out by individuals with no previous involvement in labor issues.”
The adviser said labor leaders reported seeing individuals wearing helmets and shorts, typically hired for disruptive activities, at these protest sites. “These are not genuine workers; they are outsiders,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, a source from the security agency stated that they detained at least 4 for their involvement in vandalism and found they were not workers from any factories.
