Nazimuddin Shyamol
Unrest has been prevailing at the Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) in the port city, with workers staging protests following the termination of their colleagues at several factories.
Around 2,000 workers from Excelsior Shoes Limited blocked the busy Shah Amanat International Airport Road near the CEPZ on Monday morning, protesting sudden closure of the factory.
The demonstration severely disrupted traffic in the area, affecting thousands of commuters and workers from nearby factories.
Confirming the incident, Assistant Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Mahmudul Hasan said that police, army and industrial police personnel have been deployed to maintain order and control the situation.
The unrest began after Excelsior Shoes terminated 40 workers for alleged disciplinary violations, in accordance with the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) rules.
On Sunday, the factory management had posted a notice at the gate, announcing an indefinite shutdown due to rising worker unrest over the past two days. When workers arrived on Monday morning and found the closure notice, tensions flared, leading to the road blockade around 9:30am.
The protest has caused severe traffic congestion in the area.
Earlier on Saturday, protests began at the shoe factory following dismissal of workers. The following day, workers of JW Apparels Limited also staged a demonstration against similar layoffs.
However, workers at JW Apparels returned to work on Monday morning and the situation remains normal after factory management engaged in negotiations and convinced them to resume production, said the police.
Meanwhile, workers at Jihang Medical Products Limited, also located within CEPZ, staged a peaceful sit-in protest on Monday demanding the reinstatement of 16 recently laid-off workers.
Superintendent of Chittagong Industrial Police Mohammad Solaiman said the workers who were laid off at Jihang Medical for not following factory rules had been paid their salaries. Still, they staged protests by blocking the road. Law enforcement personnel eventually removed them from the area.
nazimuddinshyamol@gmail.com
