2,000 workers protest as shoe factory shuts down amid unrest at Ctg EPZ

Around 2,000 workers of Excelsior Shoes Ltd in Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) blocked the Airport Road at CEPZ intersection in Chattogram this morning (7 April), protesting the shutdown of their factory amid ongoing unrest.

Confirming the matter, Assistant Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Bandar Zone Mahmudul Hasan said, "Around 2000 workers of Excelsior Shoes Limited have stopped vehicular movement on Airport Road by putting up a blockade. Members from the police, army and industrial police are at the spot to control the situation."

"Excelsior Shoes authorities sacked 40 workers on accusations of breaking discipline following Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority [BEPZA] laws. The sacked workers are trying to destabilise the situation by organising the other workers," Mahmudul added.

The authorities of the shoe factory hung a notice at the entrance of the factory yesterday (6 April) afternoon announcing a closure for an indefinite period citing worker unrest for the past two days.

Seeing this after arriving at the factory this morning, the workers blocked the Airport Road around 9:30am, causing vehicular movement to come to a standstill leading to immense suffering for commuters and workers of other factories.

Protests at Excelsior Shoes Limited began on Saturday (5 April) following layoffs of the workers, while workers at JW Apparels began their protest yesterday over the same reason.

However, workers at JW Apparels Limited have given up their movement protesting the layoffs and joined work from today morning, said police.

"JW Apparels authorities have talked to their workers and brought them back to work this morning. Workers at this factory did not create any problem since then," AC Mahmudul said.

Meanwhile, workers at Jihang Medical Product Limited in CEPZ have been staging a peaceful sit-in since this morning, demanding the reinstatement of 16 workers who had been dismissed earlier.

As a result, the busy Airport Road in Chattogram city has been witnessing repeated blockades for the last two days.