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The decision follows recent violence and disruptions at garment factories
Published : 14 Sep 2024, 09:16 PM
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, or BGMEA, has warned that factories facing labour unrest in Ashulia will be shut from Sunday if disruptions continue.
The decision follows recent disruptions in the readymade garment sector due to ongoing worker discontent and vandalism.
BGMEA President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam said if any factory in Ashulia experiences violence or vandalism, it will be closed in accordance with labour laws.
The statement was made during a meeting held on Saturday at the BGMEA complex in Uttara, Dhaka, which was attended by Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhter, Industries Advisor Adilur Rahman and Youth Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.
The meeting began in the afternoon and lasted for over three and a half hours.
Rafiqul said, “Factories will remain open on Sunday. However, if there is any incident of vandalism or if workers refuse to work, the factory owners in Ashulia will close their factories.”
Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, or BKMEA, said: “We support this declaration. If vandalism occurs, factories will be closed.”
AK AZAD PRESSURES BGMEA ON FACTORY CLOSURES
After the meeting, Rafiqul was called upon by the moderator to make concluding remarks.
At that moment, AK Azad, former BGMEA president and founder of Ha-Meem Group, stood up from his chair on stage.
He walked to the microphone and said, “No decision has yet been made. We need an announcement on whether or not the factories will remain open.”
He demanded to know whether the factory owners intended to keep the factories open or close them.
Azad then called worker leader Morsheda Mishu on to the stage to speak.
As Azad took control of the microphone, the advisors on stage stood up from their chairs and began talking among themselves.
Azad repeatedly urged the BGMEA president to make the announcement regarding factory closures.
Eventually, Rafiqul declared that starting from Sunday, if any factory encounters issues, all factories across the country would be closed.
