Workers demand factory reopening: 10 hurt, 7 held as protests erupt in Ashulia

Despite a recent agreement that addressed 18 of garment workers demands, thousands of workers staged protests demanding the reopening of 19 factories, including two owned by former members of parliament from Awami League.

Eventually, the protests intensified as workers blocked roads on Sunday

To manage the situation, authorities declared general holidays for at least 40 factories in the regions of Tongabadi, Zirabo, Kathgora, Pukurpar, and Jamgora. 

Later, clashes between two groups of workers in the Polashbari and Kathgora areas resulted in at least 15 injuries, leading to the detention of 7 individuals as security measures were reinforced.

Notably, the Mondol Group's Mondol Knitwear Limited, owned by former MP Abdul Momin Mondol, remains closed, as well as a factory owned by Abdus Salam Murshedi, a former MP and past president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). When workers protested for the factory's reopening, panic spread throughout the industrial area, prompting the rapid deployment of joint security forces.

At the Mondol Knitwear Limited, a notice was posted indicating an indefinite closure. A significant march from Zirabo area converged on the factory, leading to road blockades. In an escalation, protesting workers hurled bricks at Mango Tex factory, prompting its management to announce a holiday. The protests continued as workers demanded the return of two colleagues they alleged were abducted. They blocked the Tongabadi area of the Baipail-Abdullahpur road for nearly four hours, vandalizing the factory in the process.

In a troubling incident, a female worker, Aysha Akhtar, who was reportedly missing, was presented at the factory and fainted from fear. She was later taken to a local hospital for treatment. In response to the escalating violence, police, along with forces from various security agencies, intervened to disperse the protesters.

Workers claim that factory management has kept the factories closed indefinitely despite promising to meet their demands. They allege threats from building owners and accuse them of physical assault against two committee members who advocated for their rights. Amid these tensions, protests and road blockades occurred in other areas, with workers throwing bricks at multiple factories, leading to widespread disruptions.

In light of the unrest, Ashulia Industrial Police reported that 11 factories have been indefinitely closed, with general holidays announced for several others. To prevent further disturbances, a significant security presence has been established, including members of the police, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh, and the army.