Over 32 per cent of industrial units under Industrial Police oversight, including readymade garment factories, have failed to pay February wages, while nearly 64 per cent have yet to distribute festival allowances, defying government directives ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Data from the IP also revealed that 63.45 per cent of factories, amounting to 6,408 units, had not disbursed festival allowances despite instructions to complete payments by March 12.

On March 3, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Hoque Chowdhury directed all factory owners to pay February wages within seven working days (by March 9) and to provide festival allowances by March 12.

Factory authorities were further instructed to pay half of March wages in advance after consultations with workers.

Guidance was also issued for factory owners to coordinate with employees on Eid holiday arrangements.

The Industrial Police oversee 10,100 industrial units across Dhaka, Gazipur, Chattogram, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Khulna, Sylhet and Cumilla, excluding Dhaka Metropolitan area.

Of these, 6,834 units – or 67.66 per cent – had paid February wages by Sunday, while only 3,692 units had distributed festival allowances.

Breaking down by sector, 907 out of 1,542 BGMEA-affiliated garment factories had not paid festival allowances. Among Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) members, 469 out of 627 units remained outstanding, while 222 Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) factories had yet to pay.

Within Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), 88 out of 429 factories and 30 of 76 jute mills had not disbursed allowances. Non-RMG units accounted for 4,692 pending payments.

Regarding February wages, 393 BGMEA, 325 BKMEA, 158 BTMA, 10 BEPZA and four jute mills had yet to pay workers, alongside 2,376 non-RMG units.

Ministry sources confirmed that on March 8, an additional inspector general of police from the Industrial Police was appointed as a focal point to ensure payment of wages, festival allowances and other worker benefits ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The labour minister reiterated last Friday that factory owners must complete payments before the Eid holiday begins.

Law enforcement agencies have identified approximately 266 factories, including 180 textile and RMG units across industrial zones, as being at risk of labour unrest due to potential failure to pay wages and festival allowances on time.