A female readymade garment worker was killed during a clash between workers in the Zirabo area of Ashulia on Tuesday.

At least three other workers were injured in the clash, though local workers claimed that the actual number of injured could be n 15-20.

An official from the Industrial Police confirmed that the name of the deceased worker was Rokeya Begum.

Rokeya was working as an Assistant Sewing Machine Operator at Mascot Garments and had been employed at the factory since December 1, 2021.

Police said that Mascot Garments had been closed under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labor Act.

On Tuesday morning, workers of Mascot gathered at the gate of the closed factory.

Later, the workers escalated the situation by attacking the neighboring Southern and Radiance Garments.

A three-way clash erupted between the workers of Southern, Radiance, and Mascot Garments.

During this confrontation, Rokeya Begum was killed.

Meanwhile, according to the Industrial Police, production at 29 factories in Ashulia and Gazipur was suspended on Tuesday amid the labor unrest.

Superintendent of Industrial Police Nurani Ferdous Disha on Tuesday told New Age that production at 23 ready-made garment factories in Ashulia was suspended.

Of these, 15 factories were closed under Section 13/1 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, three factories announced lay-offs, and one declared a general holiday.

In the remaining four factories, workers arrived in the morning but left without working.

In addition, the Industrial Police reported that production was suspended in six factories in the Gazipur zone.

Of these, one factory was closed under Section 13/1 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, one announced a general holiday, and workers at the remaining four factories arrived in the morning but left without working.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association reported that, on Tuesday morning, all the RMG factories except for 19 in Ashulia and three in Gazipur resumed production.

But the operations at 12 factories– 10 in Ashulia and two in Gazipur industrial zones– halted at noon when workers declined to join work after lunch.

According to the BGMEA statistics, out of 2,144 active member factories of the trade body across the country 2,022 units have paid wages for August as of Tuesday.