Photo credit: Somoy News
Hundreds of garments Workers in Savar and Gazipur industrial belts on Thursday morning returned to their workplaces amid tight security measures taken by the joint forces.
In the morning, they were seen going to their respective workplaces in groups as the authorities reopened all garment factories across the country.
The law-enforcing agencies have provided the required security in different industrial zones amid the joint forces' drive beginning from Wednesday night.
A total of 167 readymade garment factories in various industrial belts -- 49 factories located in Zirabo to Bishmail area, 64 units in Zirabo to Baipail area, some 10 in Zirani and 40 at Board Bazar of Gazipur -- couldn't operate on Wednesday due to workers' unrest, mostly instigated by outsiders.
On Tuesday at least 126 garment factories suspended operation. About 100 were closed on Monday amid the unrest.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam made the announcement on opening of the garment factories at a press conference held on Wednesday at its headquarters at Uttara in the city.
He said law enforcing agencies committed to controlling the situation and thwarting any chaos.
"Law enforcing agencies have assured us of providing the highest support including required security to operate factories and they would not tolerate any disturbance in functioning of factories."
"So, we also decided to keep all factories open today (Thursday) including those closed on Wednesday," he added.
He also said army, police, industrial police and BGB devised their own strategy and would work accordingly.
Islam said internal factory issues were minimal and the law enforcement agencies were tasked with identifying the outsider agitators.
work after receiving assurances from the factory owners that they would be paid for the first two months of their unpaid pay this month on 3rd September.
Workers at Sanzi Textile Mills Limited, a Well Group clothing factory in the Kalurghat BSCIC industrial area, staged a protest on 2nd September, to demand payment for unpaid salaries for the months of July and August.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and police officers were present when the factory owners told the workers shortly after the protest began that their full wages would be paid.
There are 1,350–1,400 workers at the factory.
“The owners have assured the workers to pay July’s wages by 10th September and August’s wages by 25th September. Some workers have returned to work today. Army and industrial police are patrolling the factory areas,” Ranjit Barua, assistant police superintendent (intelligence and media) of the Industrial Police in Chittagong, told the local media.
BGMEA Vice President Rakibul Alam Chowdhury said, “The workers have returned to work. So far, we have not received any reports of dissatisfaction.
“The Government has also announced incentives. We hope this situation will quickly resolve,” he added.
