Ashulia apparel factories to reopen tomorrow

The apparel factories which were closed down due to labour unrest in the industrial belt of Ashulia will reopen tomorrow, garment factory owners said today.

Siddiqur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association, made the announcement in a press conference this evening.

The move comes after days of labour unrest – that compelled closure of 59 apparel factories, sacking of at least 140 workers and lawsuits against over a thousand.

Factory workers went on strike demanding Tk 15,000 minimum wage for 13 days and agitated in the area compelling authorities to shut down many manufacturing units.

Apparel manufacturers said the industry counted losses of Tk 100 crore every day for five days since the factories were announced shut sine die.

State minister for labour had slammed the agitation and said that a vested quarter was stirring unrest in the sector to "destroy the sector."

Police, in Dhaka, detained a labour leader – Mushrefa Mishu, president of Garment Workers' Unity Forum – over the issue. However, lawmen said it was for "discussion into the labour unrest."