41,000 workers, 7 factories, 1 massive shutdown: What's happening with Pacific Jeans Group?

Thousands of garment workers at Pacific Jeans Group's factories in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) erupted in days of violent protests, forcing the company to shut down all its facilities indefinitely.

The unrest — one of the most severe in Bangladesh's garment sector this year — left at least 27 workers injured and halted production across the country's top denim exporter.

The trigger:
The protests trace back to 9 October, when workers learned that police had sent letters to their village homes verifying their permanent addresses — part of an investigation into a January clash where police vehicles were vandalized.

• Workers feared the letters meant they were being targeted for arrest.
• Some alleged harassment by Industrial Police at their homes.
• Panic spread, and hundreds walked off the job, sparking demonstrations across the CEPZ.

Industrial Police Superintendent Abdullah Al Mahmud later said the incident was a "misunderstanding" and that the verification process was purely procedural.

The grievances:
Beyond the police issue, workers listed a series complaints, including:

• Opposition to recent factory floor line changes, which they said displaced certain workers.
• Demands for the dismissal of Production Manager Parvez and other officials accused of misconduct.
• Guarantees that no worker would be terminated without consent.A call for management to address alleged mistreatment by supervisors.

How it escalated:

• 9 October: Initial protests inside one factory prompted a temporary shutdown, which angered workers further and spread the demonstrations.
• 14 October: Workers stopped work, cut power lines, and allegedly forced others to join an "illegal strike."
• 15–16 October: Violence intensified. Factories were vandalized, officials assaulted, and gates blockaded. At one point, protesters halted traffic at the CEPZ's main gates for nearly an hour.
• Injuries: At least 27 workers — 16 men and 11 women — were hurt, with two sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Several management staff were also attacked.

The response:

• Police, the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), and company officials met with worker representatives.
• Most demands — except those involving specific managers — were accepted.
• However, workers refused to resume work until they could meet the factory owners in person.

The shutdown:
On the night of 16 October, Pacific Jeans announced an indefinite suspension of all operations, citing the unrest as an "illegal strike" under the Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act 2019.

• The notice was signed by Managing Director Syed Mohammad Tanvir.
• Around 41,000 people, including 35,000 workers, are affected.
• The company said factories will reopen only when a "favourable environment" is restored.

Security and investigation:

• Army, navy, Industrial Police, and BEPZA guards have been deployed around the compound.
• Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to identify those involved in the violence.
• Industrial Police said anyone found responsible will face legal action.

Why it matters:
Pacific Jeans is Bangladesh's largest denim manufacturer, exporting about $400 million worth of jeans annually to major global brands. The indefinite shutdown underscores the volatility of labor relations in the country's vital garment export sector — and the economic ripple effects that can follow when trust between workers and management breaks down.

The bottom line:
A dispute that began with fear and miscommunication spiraled into one of the most significant industrial shutdowns in recent years. Factories remain closed, the area remains tense, and both sides are under pressure to find a way back to the production line.