For several days now, the industrial city of Gazipur has been gripped by unrest as workers from various factories have staged protests, road blockades, and work stoppages to press their demands.
While some normalcy had returned, on Tuesday (10 September), workers from several factories in Tongi, Joydebpur, and Sripur Pubail areas of Gazipur staged demonstrations over multiple demands.
During these protests, workers vandalised factories and blocked highways, prompting authorities to declare a one-day closure of 25 factories in various areas to maintain control.
By Wednesday (11 September) morning, notices announcing the temporary closure could be seen displayed at these factories.
On Tuesday morning, at around 9:00am, workers from the Mtranet Group factory in Tongi's BSCIC Industrial City began a demonstration, raising 13 specific demands.
Workers from other factories, including Pinaki Group, Dressman, and Noman Group, joined the protests.
Simultaneously, in the Garoria Masterbari area of Sripur upazila, workers from High Fashion, a ready-made garment factory, declared a work stoppage over 14 demands.
They blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, further escalating the situation.
Later, when they attempted to bring out workers from the neighbouring How Are You Textile Limited, they were attacked. In retaliation, the agitated High Fashion workers entered How Are You Textile and caused significant damage.
In another incident that day, workers from SM Knitwear Limited and Assorotex Limited in Joydebpur's New Market area became agitated at around noon, demanding the fulfilment of their 14 demands. T
hey began hurling bricks at the factory gates, prompting authorities to announce closures to control the situation.
Sarwar Alam, superintendent of police of the Gazipur Industrial Police, stated that the closure of the 25 factories was a preventive measure to stop the unrest from spreading to other factories.
He added that a joint force has been deployed to ensure the situation remains under control.
