Online Desk  :  At least 30 readymade garment factories in Ashulia have suspended operations as workers continue to protest, pressing their various demands.  Industrial Police-1 Superintendent Sarwar Alam said that the production in seven-eight factories was halted on Sunday (September 8) morning, but the rest were closed by the authorities in the afternoon. He said the situation was normal till 11AM but authorities forced to declare holiday in these factories after attempts to resolve the ongoing protest issues through discussions were not fruitful. But after the declaration of a general holiday in some factories, workers unrest spread to other factories as well. However, no incidents of violence or clashes were reported till Sunday evening, and the majority of factories in the area continued their operations.

Sarwar Alam also said that additional police personnel have been deployed for strengthen security measures in areas where labour protests have been ongoing for the past few days. Army, Industrial Police, and APBn personnel have been intensified in front of Pearl Garment Company Limited in the Palashbari area of Ashulia. Additionally, Army, APBn, and police officers are stationed in front of several factories along the Bypail-Abdullahpur road in Ashulia’s Narsinghpur area. Meanwhile, as per the directive of  Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the factories in Ashulia opened on Sunday morning. And the workers joined their respective workplaces at 8AM as usual. Recently, Local government adviser AF Hasan Arif said that mostly outsiders are involved in workers’ unrest and warned that they will take strict action to protect the economy and the workers