Apparel workers stage a demonstration outside Pearl Garments Company Ltd at Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on Wednesday. As many as 60 clothing units were shut following their movement in Ashulia area. — Collected BGMEA said all garment factories across the country would remain open today (Thursday) as law-enforcing agencies would provide the required security in different industrial zones amid the joint forces' drive beginning from Wednesday night.
A total of 167 readymade garment factories in various industrial belts -- 49 factories located in Zirabo to Bishmail area, 64 units in Zirabo to Baipail area, some 10 in Zirani and 40 at Board Bazar of Gazipur -- couldn't operate on Wednesday due to workers' unrest, mostly instigated by outsiders.
On Tuesday at least 126 garment factories suspended operation. About 100 were closed on Monday amid the unrest.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam made the announcement on opening of the garment factories at a press conference held on Wednesday at its headquarters at Uttara in the city.
He said law enforcing agencies committed to controlling the situation and thwarting any chaos.
"Law enforcing agencies have assured us of providing the highest support including required security to operate factories and they would not tolerate any disturbance in functioning of factories."
"So, we also decided to keep all factories open today (Thursday) including those closed on Wednesday," he added.
He also said army, police, industrial police and BGB devised their own strategy and would work accordingly.
Mr Islam said internal factory issues were minimal and the law enforcement agencies were tasked with identifying the outsider agitators.
Speaking on the occasion, BGMEA senior vice president Abdullah Hil Rakib said outsiders went to the factories, broke the gates and instigated workers to come out.
He said law enforcing agencies would go for joint operation from Wednesday night.
Not only the garment industry but also other industries including pharmaceuticals were being affected, he added.
Before the conference, the BGMEA leaders held a meeting with factory owners, law enforcing agencies including army, police and industrial police top officials.
BGMEA former presidents AK Azad, Dr Rubana Huq, Anwarul Alam Chowdhury, Anisur Rahman Sinha, Kutub Uddin Ahmed and Gulam Quddus, among others, were also present during the meeting.
AK Azad proposed keeping garment factories closed for one day and reopening after proper preparations.
Factory owners in the meeting demanded enhanced security and strict action from police and industrial police.
Meeting sources said the military representatives requested the owners to continue factory operation on Thursday for the sake of the economy, saying that more army would be deployed.
The meeting also identified the possible reasons for the unrest that included absence of industrial police's active role like before while labour leaders allegedly did not go to the spot due to insecurity.
UNB adds: In response to ongoing worker unrest in Ashulia and other parts of the country, which officials believe is largely driven by outsiders, the government has announced plans to take a firm stance to protect the nation's economy and its workers. Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Adviser AF Hassan Ariff made the announcement following an emergency meeting at the Home Ministry on Wednesday.
During the meeting, attended by key advisers including Dr. Asif Nazrul (Legal Affairs), Farida Akhter (Fisheries and Livestock), Adilur Rahman (Industries), and Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan (Labour and Employment), concerns were raised about the escalating unrest in the garment sector.
Approximately 100 factories in the Ashulia industrial area reopened on Wednesday, following a joint operation by the army and police, which provided security assurances to the garment industry. The operation was launched in response to recent unrest that had forced over a hundred factories to shut down.
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