13 factories announce closure amid worker protests in Gazipur

Authorities of 13 factories in Gazipur have announced closure of production following a day of intense worker protests.

Confirming the closures, Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Mohammad Sarwar Alam on Monday said that 12 garment factories announced closure for a day while a food production factory announced indefinite closure.

The protests, fueled by unpaid wages of up to two months, saw thousands of workers blocking roads and demanding bonuses and improved working conditions. Workers blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Tongi and Bagherbazar for several hours.

In response, authorities agreed to meet eight out of twelve worker demands, leading to the reopening of the highway around noon.

In a separate incident, six individuals were arrested in the Mouchak area on charges of vandalism and disorder after protests at Kokola Food Products escalated. Despite the factory's indefinite closure, workers continued to protest, demanding higher wages and other benefits, and briefly blocked the Dhaka-Tangail Highway. Police and army personnel intervened to restore order.