Gazipur RMG factory shuts down without paying workers before Eid

Workers have been staying inside an apparel factory in Gazipur for over three days now to get their wages, arrears and bonuses with a few hours to Eid-ul-Fitr.

The owners and administration officers of the factory, Arena Apparels Limited, have fled without clearing the dues, said the agitated workers on Sunday.

They claimed the authorities had not paid them for the last three months.

There are around 300 workers employed at the factory located in Muradpur in Kaliakoir Upazila.

After coming to work on Jun 22, the workers found no official of the factory around and since then they have been staying there.

A worker, Mamun-ur-Rashid, said he was unable to pay his house rents or repay loans. Moreover, he had no money to even start for his hometown.

Echoing him, another worker Nasima Akter said, “We have been staying here without food and will not go anywhere until our dues are cleared.”

The factory owners said they were planning to close down the business in the face of losses.

“We are trying to sell off the machinery to clear the dues,” said manager of the factory Arman Khan.

Police were discussing the matter with the factory authorities, said Gazipur industrial police OC Md Shahidullah.