100 RMG units close after workers protest

More than 100 Ready-made Garment factories had to shut shop on Monday in Savar's Ashulia area after workers hit the streets to demand better wages, job security and much else.

Protestors blocked Dhaka-Tangail highway for almost an hour pelting stones and smashing windows of some factories , witnesses said.

Police baton-charged the protestors to bring situation under control, they said. Some workers were injured.

Sunday also witnessed similar protests with more than 100 factories including those of Envoy Group, Ha-Meem Group, The Star Link Style, Meddler Apparel and Ananta Group closing down after protests.

On Monday at around 8:00am, workers started demonstrations just after entering factory premises asking for wage hike and better security, Ashulia Police Station Inspector Mostafa Kamal said.

The protestors blocked Dhaka-Tangail highway around 8:30am, he said.

Factories of Knit Asia, Deco Group, Ha-Meem Group, The Red Dresses Limited, Star Link Style Limited and Shade Fashions were forced to close down for the day soon after.

The protestors went away around 11:00am, bdnews24.com Correspondent reported.

Ha-Meem Group Deputy Managing Director Delwar Hossain told bdnews24.com that workers of his factory came in, signed up attendance register and left to demand better wages.

“I tried to talk to the thousands of workers, all in vain. But our factory will be open on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, some workers of Sobahanbagh area also staged demonstrations demanding clearance of dues. Their factory building was closed down on Apr 25 after cracks were spotted.

Savar Model Police Station Sub Inspector Abdul Jalil said dues of only 10-12 workers was pending. “It was they who were demonstrating. They left after assurances from management.”