Thousands lose jobs
Factory workers report to work at the Ha-Meem Group complex in Ashulia yesterday morning after three days of violence. Many workers now face uncertainty as the factories they worked in were gutted in an arson attack yesterday.Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain
Monday's arson attack on Ha-Meem Group complex in Ashulia will mean job loss for around half of 4,000 workers at its sweater factories.
Many of the workers facing the axe came to the site yesterday morning. They said managing job in other factories would be very difficult as the garment sector braces itself for a decline in export due to global recession.
Almost all other factories in Ashulia and Savar including those inside the Export Processing Zone however got back in operation yesterday.
It was a welcome contrast to the previous three days that saw clashes between demonstrators and the law enforcers leave two workers dead and scores injured and production suspended.
The apparel factories in the areas came alive after the government put in place adequate security arrangements.
Over 2,000 additional policemen had been deployed since Monday night, said Monwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station.
Except ransacking of a factory at Kathgorah of Nishchintipur in the morning, most part of the day went off peacefully.
At around 10:00am, a group of workers damaged windowpanes and a vehicle of Letherex Garments Ltd.
Incensed at the closure of their factory, they made the attack while returning home, said local sources.
Meanwhile, wisps of smoke were still rising off the debris inside the Ha-Meem Group complex.
Some 200 workers were working with the firefighters to clear wreckage from the scene.
Nazma Begum [not her real name], one of those fearing losing job, said, "Though the authorities have asked to keep contact, I think I won't be allowed to continue here."
Working for the Ha-Meem Group for two years, she said her fate now depends on the owners. "It won't be easy to land another job if I lose this one."
Ha-Meem Group management say they will have to shed jobs from their sweater factories due to a shortage of machines, accommodation problems and dwindling supply of raw materials.
AK Azad, managing director of the group, told The Daily Star, "All three of our sweater factory buildings have gone up in smoke."
He alleged that his factories could have been saved, had the police swung to action and additional forces been sent in.
Preliminary estimate suggests their losses would be around Tk 100 crore, he added.
Brig Gen (retd) Mohammad Ali Mandal, director (administration) of the apparel giant, said, "We are trying to resume production in two adjacent buildings with the salvaged machines and raw materials. There, we may employ around 2,000 workers.”
He however said it won't be possible to retain the rest 2,000 workers since they are not able to work in woven garment factories that emerged unscathed from the arson.
Queried how they will go about job-shedding, Ha-Meem's MD said, "While carrying out the layoff, we'll make sure the workers understand the situation and do not get angry."
According to the rules, all their dues will be paid within July 10, he added.
Some 50 policemen were posted in front of the Ha-Meem Group complex to ensure security.
OC Monwar Hossain said they had filed a case against 3,000 people, mostly unnamed, for the attack on Ha-Meem Group and other factories.
No arrest was made as of filing the report at 9:00pm.
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