Clashes at Ctg EPZ leave 27 injured as Pacific Jeans workers protest

The Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) witnessed violent clashes this morning (16 October) as thousands of workers from six factories of the Pacific Jeans Group staged a protest over workplace grievances.

According to the Industrial Police, 27 workers - 16 men and 11 women - sustained injuries during the unrest that began around 8am. Two were referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment, while the others received primary care at the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) hospital.

The unrest reportedly started when workers of Pacific Jeans Limited refrained from joining production and staged a sit-in inside the factory premises, demanding management changes and protesting alleged harassment by law enforcement. The demonstration soon escalated into scuffles among the workers themselves.

At around 11:25am, protesters blocked the main gates of the EPZ, halting movement for nearly an hour.

Industrial Police Superintendent Abdullah Al Mahmud persuaded them to leave, after which normalcy gradually returned.

Officials said about 41,000 workers across six factories have been disrupting production for several days. The tension intensified after management warned on Wednesday that the factories could be closed if the protests continued.

Why the unrest

Workers alleged that some colleagues had been harassed at home by the Industrial Police following a case filed over an earlier clash in January, when police vehicles were vandalised during a protest. They also opposed recent changes in factory floor lines, claiming the adjustments unfairly displaced certain workers.

In addition to reinstating previous floor arrangements, the workers demanded the dismissal of Production Manager Parvez and several other officials, assurance that no worker would be terminated without consent, and the immediate removal of management staff accused of misconduct.

Negotiations underway

Officials said the Industrial Police, BEPZA authorities, and factory management have been holding talks with worker representatives to resolve the standoff. 

Most of the workers' demands - except those involving specific management personnel - have been accepted.

However, workers refused to resume work until the factory owners met them personally. They also alleged that management-linked staff deliberately attacked them during today's unrest.

SP Abdullah Al Mahmud said, "The incident will be investigated. Anyone found responsible, based on CCTV footage, will face legal action."

To prevent further violence, additional security forces, including members of the army, navy, Industrial Police, and BEPZA guards, have been deployed around the factory compound. 

Authorities said by this afternoon that the situation was under control but remained tense, with factory operations still suspended.