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A total of 670 garment factories in three major industrial zones have been shut amid labour unrest over demands for higher minimum wages and an end to the blacklisting of workers, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
As workers stopped working and left factories amid escalating tensions, around 1,680,572 workers were forced to return home without completing their shifts.
According to BGMEA data as of 11:30am on Monday (November 2), 1,464 of the 2,134 factories across five industrial zones were operational.
The worst impact was reported in Gazipur and Mymensingh, where workers stopped working at 382 of the 836 factories. As a result, 883,472 workers returned home without working.
A similar situation prevailed in Savar, Ashulia and Zirani, where operations at 223 of 441 factories were suspended, affecting 743,650 workers.
In Mirpur, Dhaka, 65 of the 320 factories were shut, forcing 53,450 workers to return home.
However, the unrest had no impact on garment factories in Narayanganj and Chattogram, where all 197 and 314 factories respectively remained operational.
On Sunday, workers staged widespread demonstrations across industrial zones, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, reinstatement of dismissed workers and an end to blacklisting those involved in protests.
The demonstrations led to clashes with police, tear gas and sound grenade use, and chases between workers and law enforcers. BGB personnel were deployed in Savar and Gazipur to help control the situation.
Amid the unrest, authorities had declared holidays at 529 factories nationwide on Sunday, including 177 in Savar and Ashulia.
Police said 49 people, including leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, were detained from Mirpur and Gazipur over allegations of involvement in violence and sabotage.
To address the situation and ensure industrial security, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired an emergency meeting with senior officials from the Home and Labour Ministries on Sunday evening. He directed the authorities to take necessary measures to ensure factories resume operations quickly and strengthen overall security.
