Concerns are mounting over delayed wage payments in hundreds of factories across Bangladesh ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, raising fears of labour unrest in key industrial belts.
Industrial Police officials warned that some factories may struggle to pay April wages and festival allowances on time, particularly in the garment and textile sectors.
Authorities have urged factory owners and trade bodies to take immediate steps to ensure timely payments and prevent disruptions in industrial areas during the holiday period.
About 9.15 per cent, or 937 factories, under the jurisdiction of the Industrial Police (IP) in eight industrial zones across the country, particularly in Ashulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram and Sylhet, had yet to pay April wages as of Thursday.
A total of 10,238 factories are operating under its jurisdiction across eight industrial zones -- Ashulia, Gazipur, Chattogram, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Khulna, Cumilla and Sylhet -- excluding Dhaka Metropolitan City.
Of these, 937 factories -- including 325 textile and ready-made garment (RMG) units and 612 non-RMG units -- had not paid April wages until Thursday, IP data showed.
The highest non-payment rate was recorded in Narayanganj at 19.59 per cent, followed by 15.70 per cent in Mymensingh, 12.52 per cent in Gazipur and 6.39 per cent in Ashulia.
At a meeting with trade bodies, including BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMA and BEPZA, on
Wednesday, Additional Inspector General of Industrial Police Gazi Jasim sought their cooperation and urged factory owners to clear workers' salaries and bonuses before the Eid-ul-Azha holidays begin.
He expressed concern that some factories may fail to pay wages and festival allowances ahead of Eid and requested owners of those units to hold urgent discussions with leaders of different organisations and government agencies to ensure timely payment of wages, festival bonuses and leave.
He also urged factory owners not to lay off workers before Eid.
Mr Jasim further directed Industrial Police unit heads to take necessary measures to prevent workers from causing public suffering by blocking roads and highways over salary and bonus demands, and to ensure proper implementation of government instructions in this regard.
BGMEA Vice-President Rezwan Selim said the government needs to maintain special monitoring of subcontracting factories, adding that the trade body would also supervise them.
BKMEA Director Md Belayet Hossain Ripon alleged that it is impossible to run factories smoothly unless "vested quarters" among labour leaders are controlled.
He also requested stronger police patrols in industrial areas at night.
According to Industrial Police data, more than 10 per cent, or 186 factories, out of 1,790 units listed with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 77 factories or 10.88 per cent out of 708 units registered with the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), and 58 member mills out of 382 under the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) had yet to pay April wages as of Thursday.
The data also showed that four factories under the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and three jute mills had not paid April wages by Thursday.
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