The government is now planning to sit with the readymade garment workers inside factories as the month-long unrest in the Ashulia zone, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka, is yet to come under control even though authorities and factory owners have already decided to meet all 18 demands placed by the workers.
Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies will take a hard-line approach to protect the RMG industry, in case anyone tries to create anarchy, vandalise factories and block roads.
On Sunday, security forces arrested at least 15 people for their alleged involvement in fuelling the ongoing workers' unrest, and their drive will continue.
On Sunday, 14 factories in Ashulia were shut in line with the “no work, no pay” policy under Section 13/1 of the labour act. Additionally, at least 51 factories were also forced to suspend production due to unrest.
Abdullah Hil Rakib, senior vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told The Business Post, “We have met all demands, but many workers are still continuing protests. They are also forcing other workers to join them. As a result, we have been forced to shut down factories.
“This is a total failure of attempts to maintain law and order. Law enforcement agencies should handle the situation strictly to save the sector, employment and the country’s economy.”
Many government officials, labour leaders and factory owners have claimed that followers of the ousted Awami League government, like-minded owners and workers’ leaders, and a group serving the interests of neighbouring India are fuelling the workers’ unrest. These like-minded owners are reportedly providing ID cards to their followers to continue unrest.
In a bid to solve the prolonged crisis, labour ministry officials on Sunday sat with labour leaders at the Bangladesh Secretariat, and both parties agreed that the unrest was illogical as all demands have been met, according to sources who attended the meeting.
During the meeting, a labour leader claimed that former Awami League MP Abdus Salam Murshedy, who is the owner of Envoy Group, hired local men to carry out unrest in the name of protests.
The leader also accused Awami League-backed former mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Atiqul Islam and several other leaders of fuelling the unrest.
Sources said that another labour leader claimed that during the Awami League regime, many trade unions were born and most of their leaders shared the same values and goals. They secretly met with like-minded workers and are influencing them to continue protests.
“Another labour leader claimed that Ha-meem Group Chairman AK Azad gave Tk 10,000 to every labour leader as a gift. Why did he do that?” sources said quoting the leader, who also urged the government to investigate these allegations and sit with workers at the factories.
In response to these allegations, Labour and Employment Ministry Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman said that they would investigate and sit with workers in every factory. Labour leaders, owners, law enforcement agencies and concerned government officials will be present at those meetings.
