An apparel factory today sacked 121 "troublemakers" and pasted their photographs on the notice board as labour unrest in the industrial belt of Savar continues for the 11th straight day today.

Windy Apparels Limited, from where the agitation allegedly began and spread to elsewhere, had sacked the 121 workers, a local correspondent reports from the spot.

Meanwhile, three more factories were closed today for agitation in the industrial belt raising the tally to 59, putting livelihoods of about 1.51 lakh workers in jeopardy.

Windy Apparels Limited, the factory from where the labour agitation allegedly began and spread to elsewhere, has pasted the names and photographs of these "troublemakers" on the notice board. Photo: Star

In the morning, workers tried to block Dhaka-Tangail highway in Nischintapur area. But they were thwarted, said Mostafizur Rahman, superintendent of Industrial Police-1.

Apart from industrial police, elite force Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were patrolling the streets to avert any trouble.

Yesterday, State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu slammed the unrest and said that a vested quarter is out to destroy Bangladesh's apparel sector.

Apparel owners have said they will not pay the workers since they were absent for the past week. They announced closure of 55 factories for indefinite period yesterday.

The apparel workers are agitating for a minimum wage of Tk 15,000 "to keep up with rising prices of essentials". Currently, they are being paid around Tk 7,000 in average monthly.

Squadrons of elite force Rapid Action Battalion rolling on the streets of Savar to check labour unrest on December 21, 2016. Photo: Star