A large number of terminated garments workers staged demonstrations and vandalised factories in different areas of Gazipur city on Monday. Following the labour unrest, holiday was announced for many factories. — Photo: Collected Apparel-sector leaders Monday demanded tightened security at factories as production in nearly 100 units in the export industry halted amid labour unrest.
They also sought necessary steps to address some issues related to banks and measures for fast release of containers at port and ensuring smooth supply of utilities.
Their demands were made at a view-exchange meeting organised at a city hotel by Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association (BGBA).
Former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Awal Mintoo was chief guest at the meeting presided over by BGBA president Md Mofazzal Hossain Pavel.
According to BGMEA, some 40 factories located at Ashulia remained closed on Monday while 45 units announced closure for the day after workers demonstrated being instigated by job-seekers.
Vandalism took place in three factories, namely Valmon Fashion Ltd, Brothers Fashion Ltd and Stylish Fashion Limited, while robbery in two others - Machtad International Ltd and Tex Euro BD limited-according to BGMEA.
Speaking on the occasion, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) director Shovon Islam said some hundred garment factories in different industrial zones across the country could not operate on Monday as workers came out from some factories instigated by outsiders while others followed.
"Safety is main concern. A taskforce on zone based garment factories on Sunday decided, following closure of some units over labour protests, for keeping garment factories open on Monday. But we could not," he said.
The problems initially began when a good number of jobseekers stood in front of factories chanting for employment with recruitment of more male workers, he added.
He, however, said at the meeting that some 100 to 125 garment factories in different industrial belts, including Ashulia and Savar, remained shuttered on Monday.
The BGMEA leader also demanded extending the LDC-graduation period, saying that the graduation timeline up 2026 was decided on "fake information".
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association president Showkat Aziz Russel said they could not open letter of credit and demanded resolving the banking issues.
He also demanded improving overall security and ensuring smooth supply of gas and electricity to factories.
BGBA president Mr Pavel said brands are not sending their teams due to insecurity. "If the situation is not improved, work orders might shift to other countries."
It takes 12 to 14 days to release containers at port instead of three to four days while 10 days are needed to release fabrics used for producing goods sample, he said.
He also alleged that some foreign banks are not accepting back- to-back letter of credits (LC) from local banks and all this puts negative impacts on buyer confidence.
Addressing the event, Mr Mintoo said the business community has to fight for their betterment, saying that businesses caused disrespect for themselves by flattering rather they should speak the truth.
He suggests ways out by identifying problems, saying that "production activities should not be hampered".
Export Promotion Bureau vice-chairman Anwar Hossain, Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA) president Kabir Ahmed, Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Mohammad Shahriar, among others, also spoke.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lt-General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd) directed the military, police, and industrial police to launch a joint forces' operation in Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur areas from Monday night to provide security to the garment industries.
The decision was made in the meeting of the BGMEA and the BKMEA with the home affairs adviser on Monday afternoon, BGMEA President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam told the media after the meeting at the Secretariat.
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