Industrial Police data reveals 2,698 factories — including 1,947 non-RMG units — have not released April wages, with Narayanganj posting the highest default rate at 57.30 per cent.

Some 26.35 per cent of factories under the jurisdiction of Industrial Police — spread across industrial zones including Ashulia, Gazipur and Narayanganj — have yet to disburse wages for the month of April, raising fresh concerns over labour unrest ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

According to Industrial Police data, a total of 10,238 factories are in operation across eight industrial zones — Ashulia, Gazipur, Chattogram, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Khulna, Cumilla and Sylhet — under its jurisdiction, excluding Dhaka Metropolitan City.

Of those 10,238 units, as many as 2,698 factories failed to pay April wages by Saturday. The defaulters include 1,947 non-RMG units and 751 textile and garment factories.

Among trade associations, over 22 per cent — 395 out of 1,790 factories — listed with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) are yet to pay April wages.

Similarly, 225 units or 31.78 per cent of the 708 registered with Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) remain in default, as do 123 out of 382 Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) member factories.

Eight factories under the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and seven jute mills also failed to make wage payments by Saturday, according to the IP data.

Labour leaders at a recent tripartite consultative committee (TCC) meeting warned that the non-payment of wages in factories ahead of Eid-ul-Azha could trigger labour unrest in industrial zones.

They also urged the government to intervene against factory authorities that continue to withhold wages and dues.

Labour Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury on Thursday directed all factory owners to pay festival allowances by 21 May and to ensure monthly wages are released in a timely manner, in line with the labour law, to avert any untoward situation.

In a separate development, the government has released Tk 15 billion in cash incentives — the fourth tranche of export subsidies for fiscal year 2025–26 — covering 43 export sectors. The disbursement followed requests from factory owners.

The cash incentive programme covers key export-oriented sectors including ready-made garments, frozen shrimp and fish, leather goods, and jute products, with rates ranging from 0.30 per cent to 10 per cent across various categories of exportable goods.