A total of 33 garment factories in Gazipur, Mymensingh, and Savar were shut down on Saturday amid worker protests demanding Eid bonuses and extended holidays.
The closures were implemented to maintain security and protect assets, as tensions escalated ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Many ready-made garment (RMG) workers blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway after their factories were closed indefinitely following previous unrest.
Among the affected factories, Giant Knit Fashion Limited in Gazipur shut its operations on Saturday morning, citing ongoing worker demonstrations.
Additionally, three factories of Alif Group had already been closed on Thursday without addressing workers’ demands.
Factory owners cited Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 as the legal basis for the shutdowns, prioritising security concerns.
However, labour leaders accused owners of failing to pay wages and bonuses on time, leading to yearly protests before Eid.
According to union leaders, more than 75% of garment workers had not received their Eid bonuses by Thursday.
With banks closed on Friday and Saturday, many workers feared further delays in payments.
“Every year, we have to demonstrate to get our rightful salaries and Eid bonuses because of some irresponsible factory owners,” said a labour leader. Workers are demanding bonuses by the 20th of Ramadan and holiday entitlements similar to government employees.
Data from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) indicate that as of Thursday, only 525 out of 2,107 factories had paid Eid bonuses, while 2,043 factories had cleared February’s wages.
Speaking to Daily Sun, Rafiqul Islam, general secretary of the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), expressed hope that bonuses would be paid by Sunday.
However, he criticised factory owners for closing operations without prior notice.
“There is no coordination within BGMEA regarding the Eid holiday schedule. Some factories have declared a 10-day holiday, but many have not, which has led to worker protests,” he said.
Nazma Akter, president of the Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, highlighted the disparity between public and private sector holidays.
“Discrimination in holiday entitlements between government employees and private workers should be eliminated. The new Bangladesh was built on the principles of equality,” she stated.
In response to the crisis, BGMEA urged the government to release Tk500 crore in pending export incentives to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) pay worker dues before Eid.
Former BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel voiced concerns over the ongoing unrest.
“Worker leaders should help prevent road blockades, as they disrupt the economy and the industry,” he said.
Source: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
