At Least 40 Garment Factories Shut Indefinitely in Savar, Ashulia

At least 40 garment factories in the industrial areas of Savar and Ashulia have been closed indefinitely amid labour unrest. Another five to six factories have declared a general holiday after workers failed to report for duty.

Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of police of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, confirmed the closures around 9:45am today (November 14).

He said no untoward incidents had been reported in the industrial areas so far today.

The factories were closed under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006. The provision allows employers to partially or fully close an establishment, or any of its sections, in the event of an illegal strike. Workers participating in the strike are not entitled to wages during the closure, effectively applying a “no work, no pay” policy.

Khairul Mamun Mintoo, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Sweaters Workers Trade Union Centre, said invoking the provision could further fuel workers’ anger and intensify the unrest, as they would not receive wages while the factories remained closed.