TDS Desk:

Most garment factories in Ashulia reopened Saturday (14 September) following a decision by BGMEA after more than two weeks of labor unrest.

The industry is beginning to pick up its usual pace as workers have started working normally in these factories since this morning.

No worker unrest was reported in the area as of filing this report at 1pm.

Meanwhile, industry insiders believe that if the situation remains normal until the afternoon, the industry will soon pick up its pace, and the work environment in the industrial area will revert to its usual state from tomorrow (15 September).

Sources at the industrial police said workers have started working peacefully in the reopened factories.

Although BGMEA held meetings with local leaders and factory owners and decided to reopen factories on Saturday, some factories still remained closed.

These factories were closed because the owners were trying to understand the situation, according to the industrial police.

According to BGMEA, 36 factories have been closed following Section 13(1) of the Labour Act, which says ‘No Work, No Pay,’ while two factories are closed but have given salaries to the workers.

Four more factories have been closed after opening in the morning.

Contacted, the Legal Affairs Adviser of Bangladesh Garments and Sweater Workers’ Trade Union Centre (GWTUC), Khairul Mamun Mintu, said, “The situation seems to be improving as many owners put notices in front of their factories mentioning that the workers’ demands have been met.

“Workers are also showing interest in returning to work, and we hope that all the factories will be reopened tomorrow,” he added.

BGMEA statistics show that 2,102, or 98.04%, of the 2,144 factories of BGMEA across the country have been opened.

Among all the factories, 1,894 have paid workers their salaries for August.