Ashulia RMG hub abuzz again

Fifty-nine Ashulia-based garment factories reopened yesterday as normalcy returned in the industrial belt after around two weeks of demonstrations by workers for wage hike. However, over 541 workers have been suspended for their alleged involvement in the unrest.

Most of the workers were reportedly suspended from Ha-Meem Group, Sharmin Group, Setara Group and Windy Apparels Ltd. The factory authorities pasted the lists of terminated workers at the gates of their respective units.

In some cases, the list also included photos of the suspended workers.

AK Azad, managing director of Ha-Meem Group, said he could not give an exact number of suspended workers.

“We will form a committee soon to investigate the suspensions. During interrogation by the committee, every suspended worker would be allowed to give his opinion. The committee would decide about their jobs later,” Azad added.

Everything would be done according to the labour law. If any worker was finally sacked, he would be paid termination benefits, the businessman said.

The MD of another factory said he has suspended over 127 workers so far for their alleged involvement in looting, vandalising and altercations.

“I will talk to my lawyers to give the workers termination benefits as soon as possible,” the MD told The Daily Star over the phone on condition of anonymity.

The number of suspended workers is more than 1,600, said the MD who has over 12,000 employees in his six units.

Yesterday, many workers were not allowed to enter their workplaces for their alleged involvement in the unrest, according to security guards of some factories.

Workers seemed happy to see their factories reopened.

“I am happy that the factory has reopened after two weeks,” said Rahim Akhter, an operator at a garment factory in Ashulia.

He, however, said their wages should be hiked as prices of essentials and house rent have gone up.

“No untoward incident was reported yesterday at Ashulia. The workers resumed work peacefully and production in the factories was smooth,” said Siddiqur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Suspension of workers had been an issue of a particular factory, Siddiqur said, adding that the decision to reinstate the workers would be taken by that factory.

Members of law-enforcement agencies were deployed in Ashulia for maintaining law and order, reports a correspondent.

A section of garment workers started boycotting work on December 11 demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 16,000 instead of Tk 5,300.

The authorities of the garment factories later decided to shut down their units in fear of a massive labour unrest and spillover of demonstrations at neighbouring factories.