Bangladesh garment factories reopen amid PM Hasina's assurance, over 541 workers sacked

Garment factories in Ashulia have reopened today after several days of staying closed in face of agitation over pay hike. All 59 factories, which were shut down following the labour unrest reopened today with small attendance of workers. The garment workers have been agitating demanding a raise in minimum wage to Tk 15,000 for over a week that compelled the factories to close operation indefinitely.

Meanwhile, 541 workers have lost their jobs over the unrest.

Sharmin Group terminated 143 workers today for their alleged involvement in labour unrest. The management of Sharmin Group also filed two cases against 200-250 unnamed workers over the unrest with Ashulia Police Station. Another factory of Setara Group terminated 30 workers on charges of "creating chaos," said Mofazzal Haque, security in-charge of the factory. Officer-in-charge of Ashulia Poilce Station said that a total of 10 cases were filed since the unrest.

• The garment owners said losses incurred were Tk 100 crore each day. Dhaka superintendent of police Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahaman said, "The workers have been requested to work peacefully in their respective factories. The situation is very good now with no report of any chaos in the area."
• The SP said that additional members of law enforcers including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in the area to avert any untoward incident. On the other hand, superintendent of Industrial Police-1 Mustafizur Rahman said, "Police do not have the accurate number of the sacked workers yet but we will get the total number of sacked workers very soon."
• Earlier, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) declared closure of the factories on December 20. Meanwhile, BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman announced the decision of reopening the factories at a press briefing at BGMEA Building on Sunday. He said, "As per directions and assurance of security and safety from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and urge from the workers, we have decided to reopen the closed factories in Ashulia from Monday."
• He said, the factories will be reopened as per Section 13/1 of the Labour Act that empowers the owners to close down factories amid workers' unrest without providing them any benefit. The BGMEA chief also said, "The factory closure was hurting the workers and owners as well as the country's economy and as the Prime Minister ordered us to reopen the factories, we have decided to reopen the factories."