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Published : 06 Jun 2026, 01:01 PM
Garment workers of Al-Muslim Group in Savar have staged protests demanding reinstatement and payment of arrears, briefly blocking the Dhaka–Aricha Highway’s Dhaka-bound lane for around one and a half hours.
Several hundred agitated workers gathered outside the AKM Knitwear Ltd factory at Ulail in Savar from 8am on Saturday.
At one stage, they blocked the road before being persuaded to leave, said Industrial Police Inspector Refayet Ullah Chowdhury.
Police were deployed in the locality to prevent further unrest.
Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and water cannons were seen positioned in front of the factory gate, creating a tense atmosphere.
On Friday night, Al-Muslim Group management informed journalists at its office that a total of 1,868 workers had been laid off across multiple units.
This includes 1,286 workers from AKM Knitwear Ltd in Ulail, 529 from Pacific Blue Jeans Wear in Radio Colony, and 53 from Al-Muslim Apparels in Ashulia.
The company said the layoffs were due to a decline in orders and claimed that all dues had been settled.
However, protesting workers alleged they were dismissed without prior notice and had not received full payments.
Operator Salma Akter said, “I have been working in this factory since 2017. Suddenly, without any notice, we were laid off. We have rent to pay, children’s education costs, and now we are helpless.”
She added, “We were not properly paid. If someone is laid off, they are supposed to get three months’ pay, but I was given only one month.”
Sewing operator known only as Afanur, who worked for 13 years, said she received a termination message on her phone and was denied entry to the factory on Saturday morning.
Worker Rokibullah said they were dismissed “without any notice” and not paid according to labour rules, while another worker, Rozina Akter, said she only learned of her dismissal when her entry card was withheld.
Another worker, Asiya Akter, said sudden job losses amid rising living costs had left families in distress.
Workers demanded reinstatement or full payment of dues in accordance with labour law.
Al-Muslim Group Deputy General Manager (Administration) Md Abu Raihan said the layoffs were carried out under Section 20 of labour law due to a business downturn and falling orders.
He said all dues had been paid as per policy and rejected the allegations, adding that any remaining payments would be settled after verification if workers came forward.
