Most Ashulia factories reopen as workers’ demands accepted 

Most garment factories in Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka, reopened today (25 September) after owners agreed to all 18 negotiated demands of workers, including an increase in the attendance bonus and the implementation of the minimum wage by October. 

"Almost all the factories reopened, while 19 units, including four non-RMG ones, remained closed today," Superintendent of Industrial Police-1 Md Sarowar Alam told The Business Standard in the morning. 

A general holiday was declared in 14 factories, and five others were closed under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act. This section entails that an employer may close down either wholly or partly any section or establishment in the event of an illegal strike in any section or department of the establishment. 

"Factories such as Generation Next have remained closed due to complications over unpaid wages," Sarowar added. 

No untoward incidents were reported as most factories in the Ashulia Industrial Zone, including Baipail, Jamgara, Kathgara, and Narsinghapur, reopened in the morning, with workers returning to work. 

Additional law enforcement forces deployed outside the factories. Joint patrol teams were dispatched to keep the situation under control. 

Earlier, manufacturers agreed to the demands of the workers, including an increase in the attendance bonus by Tk225 and 100% implementation of the minimum wage by October. 

A consensus was reached between the owners and workers, and as a result, the government expects all factories to operate normally starting today. 

Other demands included an increase in both the tiffin bill and night bill by Tk10 each, the supply of essentials at affordable prices through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), and a fixed timeline for the payment of arrears. 

Sources said the total number of operational factories in Ashulia today was 272, with 267 of them having paid August wages, while five factories had not yet been able to pay the wages of that month. 

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) also reported that the total number of operational factories in Savar, Ashulia, and Zirani that day was 407, while 14 factories remained closed. 

In Gazipur, 876 factories were open, while 4 remained closed. 

Additionally, in Narayanganj, 209 factories were operational, 302 in the DMP area, and 350 in Chattogram. BGMEA noted that no factories remained closed in these areas.

In a press release, BGMEA President Khondaker Rafiqul Islam expressed his sincere thanks to the workers for returning to work peacefully. He also urged them to continue performing their duties diligently, helping to keep the wheels of the economy moving forward.

He also thanked labour leaders, garment entrepreneurs, the government, the army, industrial police, joint forces, and law enforcement agencies for their efforts in restoring normal production conditions in the factories.

Rafiqul Islam called on all stakeholders to maintain this productive environment in garment factories and to continue supporting the country's economic progress during this critical period of rebuilding a new Bangladesh.