Workers of shut factories block roads in Ashulia again demanding dues

Workers of two shut factories, who blocked the Nabinagar-Chandra road in front of Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) at Ashulia yesterday, have continued their blockade demanding payment of dues, including service benefits.

The protesting workers from Lenny Fashion and Lenny Apparels, which shut down four years ago, held a demonstration yesterday from 7:30am.

Traffic on both sides of the road had been on halt causing severe congestion in the area.

Since this morning, they have not been allowing anyone to enter the DEPZ, causing the activities of all industrial units located in the old part of DEPZ to be halted.

According to Ansar members stationed at the gate of DEPZ, although workers of different factories arrived in the morning to join work, they were unable to enter their factories due to obstruction from the protesting workers.

The workers had to return from the DEPZ gate, an Ansar member said.

Protesting workers said they won't let anyone enter any factory until their dues are cleared.

However, factories in the new DEPZ area were running as usual.

Talking to The Business Standard yesterday evening, Industrial Police-1 Superintendent of Police Md Sarwar Alam said workers from the two factories have been blocking the road since Tuesday morning.

"We have been in discussions with the DEPZ authorities throughout the day. However, the workers are adamant that they will not leave until they are paid, and Bepza is yet to make a decision. As a result, the situation remains unchanged," he said. 

Md Islam, a worker at Lenny Apparels Limited, told The Business Standard, "I am owed Tk44,000, including one month's salary and other dues when the factory shut down four years ago. Not a single penny has been paid yet. Although the authorities have assured payment by 30 November, workers believe the promise will not be kept, prompting them to block the road on Tuesday morning."

Contacted, Bepza Executive Director (Public Relations) Anwar Parvez told The Business Standard that he is unsure from where the deadline of 30 November was communicated to the workers.

"I am not aware of any such deadline given by Bepza," he said.

Talking on the issue, he said the two factories were closed due to operational failure and were later put up for auction.

"According to Bepza's procedure, when a factory shuts down abruptly or the owner fails to operate it, a valuation is conducted, and the factory is put up for auction," he explained.

"Typically, the proceeds from the factory sale are then used to settle workers' dues and other liabilities," he said.