Despite extensive efforts to keep garment factories operational, around 45 factories in the Ashulia and Bypail areas were forced to close on Saturday due to ongoing labour unrest.
However, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has announced that all garment factories will remain open on Sunday (8 September), operating as usual.
Speaking to UNB, BGMEA President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the army and industrial police in ensuring security for industrial production. "We appreciate the role of the army and industrial police in safeguarding our factories," he said.
Despite reopening all garment factories on Saturday morning, 45 of them had to shut down again by 10 am due to disruptions caused by external agitators, he noted.
BGMEA Director Shovon Islam added that while most factories across the country remained operational on Saturday, the Ashulia area faced issues related to salary payments. BGMEA is working closely with the government to resolve these problems quickly, he said.
He expressed optimism that production in garment factories would resume fully from Sunday and that the unrest would gradually subside.
To address security concerns, the BGMEA has established a coordination cell involving the army, industrial police, intelligence agencies, factory owners, and other law enforcement bodies. This area-wise setup is designed to respond swiftly to any incidents of insecurity or unrest, ensuring the stability of factory operations.
