Workers of a garments factory in Narayanganj's Fatullah upazila, staged protests and blocked roads on Tuesday (January 14) to oppose the abrupt closure of their factory.
Workers of Sensible Fashion, a factory under Fariha Group in Narayanganj's Fatullah area, staged protests and blocked roads on Tuesday (January 14) to oppose the abrupt closure of their factory.
From morning until noon, the workers of Sensible Fashion, a factory under Fariha Group occupied the road near the Police Lines Gate in the upazila, causing a complete halt to traffic on the Dhaka-Narayanganj old road and resulting in severe congestion.
The protesting workers alleged that the factory management frequently terminates employees without valid reasons and fails to pay their dues as per labor laws. They also complained of mistreatment by staff, lack of canteen facilities, and strict entry and exit rules.
The protesters shared, "We are not allowed to enter the factory even a minute past 8:00 AM, and during lunch breaks, arriving at the gate a minute late after 2:00 PM also bars us from entering. These unreasonable rules must end. Despite ongoing demands, the factory abruptly posted a closure notice without any discussion or resolution. Moreover, the management’s hired personnel threaten and harass workers."
Rajib Ghosh, Deputy Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments in Narayanganj, acknowledged the longstanding dissatisfaction among the workers. "This is not the first time such unrest has occurred. There have been disputes between workers and management over layoffs and dues. The factory was closed following legal procedures but workers are protesting by blocking roads. Efforts are underway to resolve the matter," he said.
Fatullah Model Police Station officer-in-charge Shariful Islam stated, "Discussions are being held with both workers and factory management to find a resolution. The situation has been brought under control and workers have been removed from the roads. The current situation is stable."
