Over 100 RMG factories shut for indefinite period
Savar (Dhaka) Correspondent
Authorities of around 130 ready-made garment (RMG) factories in Savar, Ashulia and Dhamrai areas have suspended operations for an indefinite period amid the ongoing demonstrations of the apparel workers, who have been demanding a hike in their minimum wages.
Mohammad Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, said the authorities declared a shutdown for their factories indefinitely under Section 13(1) of the labour law.
Industrial police said there are 1,792 garment factories in Savar, Ashulia and Dhamrai areas and operations are underway at the factories except the closed ones.
SP Sarwar said, “As most of the factories remained open, we are continuing our efforts to ensure security there.”
The apparel workers have been taking to the streets for days to realise their demand for a minimum wage of Tk23,000.
Although the government fixed Tk12,500 as a minimum wage on November 7, workers of different factories continued demonstrations rejecting the minimum wage.
123 factories vandalised in Gazipur
Some 123 RMG factories were vandalised during the demonstrations in Gazipur and 22 cases were filed in this connection, said Md Zakir Hossain Khan, deputy inspector general of industrial police.
Some 88 people have been arrested so far, he added.
Even after the government announced the wage structure, a quarter is still instigating the workers’ protests, creating an unstable situation here, Zakir said.
Industrial police and intelligence cell are working in this regard, he added.
