At least 16 readymade garment factories in the country’s major industrial belts, including Ashulia and Gazipur, suspended operations on Sunday due to labour unrest over demands for wage increases and other allowances.

According to sources from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 10 factories in the Gazipur and Mymensingh areas out of a total of 871 halted operations, while another four in Savar, Ashulia, and Zirani were closed on the same day due to the unrest.

Additionally, two more factories in the Dhaka Metropolitan area—Mirpur 14 and Kachukhet—were also closed.

Industrial Police sources said that workers from Doreen Garment protested and took to the streets for a time, later throwing bricks and stones at nearby units.

When workers from a factory named Norban refused to join Doreen’s protest, disturbances ensued as the two groups chased each other.

Sources indicated that they also attempted to break the gate of a factory namely That’s It, which belongs to the Hameem Group.

It was noted that a couple of factories belonging to Tushuka Group declared a closure from Sunday following a protest by their workers on Saturday over demands including an annual pay hike and an increase in festival and other allowances.

Tushuka Group posted notices announcing the closure at the front gates of its export-oriented factories in the Konabari area.

Law enforcement agencies, including the army and industrial police, later took control of the situation.

Fazlee Shamim Eshan, Executive President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, alleged that workers from one factory vandalised nearby units, which he deemed ‘unacceptable’.

He said that the gate of That’s It, located in Konabari, was vandalised to force workers engaged in production to exit.

He alleged that law enforcement agencies—both police and army—were not taking a proactive role and suggested an investigation into the matter, noting that by the time they arrived, hundreds or even thousands of workers had gathered.

Citing incidents in the Mirpur 14 and Kachukhet areas, where two police and army vehicles were set on fire, he suggested it was anticipated that workers would congregate outside the factory following the announcement of the unit’s closure after previous incidents there.

He questioned how the industry could function if workers vandalised other units and forced their colleagues to leave.

Another factory owner expressed concerns over the 18-point agreement, stating that it had been claimed the factory would operate peacefully following the agreement, yet the current situation did not reflect this.