The overall labour situation in Ashulia and Gazipur industrial belts improved on Thursday as most of the garment factories, except some 34, reopened with workers joining their workplaces.
Workers of two factories, however, were locked in chases and engaged in vandalism in the Zirani area of Gazipur in the morning.
Sources said the workers also blocked the Kaliakoir-Nabinagar road for some time but was later cleared by law enforcing agencies.
Talking to the FE, Abdullah Hil Rakib, senior vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said the situation had improved except for some and there was no major incident.
He said workers of two garment factories in Gazipur clashed with each other and engaged in vandalism but the rest were in operation.
Sources said workers of Radial International Limited in the Zirani area demonstrated to realise several of their demands and at one point they also asked the workers of adjacent Iris Fashions Limited to join them.
Workers of Radial International then vandalised the factory of Iris Fashions as the workers of Iris Fashions declined joining them, they said.
Later, Iris Fashions workers vandalised the factory of Radial International and they locked themselves into chases.
The agitated workers then blocked the Kaliakoir-Nabinagar road and law enforcing agencies dispersed them.
According to industry sources, some 34 garment factories in Ashulia and Gazipur suspended operations on Thursday.
Some 23 units out of 34 located in Ashulia announced closure in line with the labour law provision 13(1) that states 'no work no pay' while the rest seven announced a paid holiday. Four garment factories in Gazipur could not operate, according to the sources.
When asked, Moham-mad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Expor-ters Association (BKMEA), alleged provocation from outsiders for the ongoing labour protest in Ashulia.
He said that a vested interest group staying here in the country are instigating workers and spreading rumours mainly to divert global buyers from Bangladesh.
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