At least 200 garment factories in different industrial zones are at risk of labour unrest as, according to law-enforcement agencies, these units might fail to pay wages and festival allowances before Eid-ul-Fitr.
Meantime, factory owners of all industries at a Tripartite Consultative Committee meeting last Thursday were instructed to pay festival allowances by 20th Ramadan, according to sources.
Owners would discuss with workers and decide on the payment of wages for March over partial or full payment based on the factories' capacity, said Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
Also a member of the committee, Mr Ehsan said they have already instructed their member units to this effect.
Nazma Akter, president of the Sammilito Garment Sramik Federation, said worker leaders at the meeting demanded the payment of at least 15 days' wage for the month of March before Eid.
Also a meeting attendee, Ms Nazma said they also urged the factory owners not to terminate any worker and announce lay-off of units before the festival.
Until Monday, another data reveals, at least 825 out of 2,107 units listed with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) are yet to pay wages for February.
However, six of the registered units did not pay January wages until Monday.
Of the factories vulnerable to unrest, data shows 128 factories are members of the BGMEA, 16 affiliated with the BKMEA and four listed with the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).
Some nine units are under the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) while the rest are not listed with any, according to data.
About the issue, Mr Ehsan said many factories were struggling as their owners are in difficulties or out of the country following the latest political changeover.
On the other hand, others have been mired in problems following month-long closures fuelled by labour unrest, especially after the August uprising.
He said the BKMEA is constantly monitoring wage and festival allowance payment situation and regularly communicating with the problematic units.
Two separate crisis management cells of the BGMEA and the BKMEA are working to avert any untoward labour issues, according to trade-body sources.
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