Situation in Ashulia now normal as most factories operational

RMG factories in Ashulia has started to return to normalcy since yesterday (2 October) after experiencing unrest for the last few days.

Since this morning (3 October), most factories reopened while workers joined work spontaneously.

However, some 18-20 factories remained closed due to internal reasons, said sources at the industrial police.

No untoward incident was reported from the area since the morning, while heavy presence of law enforcers and patrolling teams of joint forces were seen.

Superintendent of Industrial Police-1 Md Sarwar Alam could not be contacted as he was admitted in a hospital with injuries sustained during a clash between RMG workers and law enforcers on 30 September.

According to industry sources, 30 factories are still closed. Among them, 23 factories have declared holiday following Section 13(1) of the Labour Act which stipulates no work, no pay, and seven factories were closed either after workers left the factory or operations were halted for any other reason.

Among the seven factories, some have declared holiday with pay.

Factories like Anjuman Design Limited and Ethical Garments Limited are closed following Section 13(1) of the Labour Act, while factories like Generation Next have declared paid leaves after workers left the factory premises.

Industry sources said that a total of 407 factories were operating in Savar, Ashulia and Zirani areas, while 876 factories remained operational in Gazipur.

In Narayanganj, a total of 209 factories were running, while 302 factories in Dhaka Metropolitan Area and 350 factories in Chattogram remained operational, industrial police said.