Authorities have announced the indefinite closure of 13 garment factories in Gazipur amid workers' unrest, while five other factories have declared a holiday for Sunday.
Additional law enforcement personnel have been deployed at key points across the industrial zone to prevent further unrest, Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Superintendent of Police Mohammad Amjad Hossain said.
According to the Industrial Police, several garment factories in the Mouchak area of Kaliakair declared a holiday at around 8:45am. After leaving their workplaces, workers staged a procession and gathered in front of Hydro Oxide Limited.
When the workers attempted to block the Dhaka-Tangail highway, police intervened and dispersed them, preventing further escalation.
A notice issued by the management of factories under Apex Holding Limited, signed by its assistant general manager for administration and human resources, said the company had made efforts to maintain normal production despite the unrest and instability in the surrounding industrial areas following the government's announcement of a minimum wage increase.
The notice said the factories had opened as scheduled on Saturday, but workers had refused to perform their assigned duties, disrupting production.
Citing the prevailing situation and Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, the management announced the suspension of operations across all departments and branches from Sunday, November 15, for an indefinite period.
The notice said the date for reopening would be announced later and asked all concerned to comply with the decision.
Far East Knitting and Dyeing Industries in the Purba Chandra area of Kaliakair also announced an indefinite closure on Sunday. The factory employs several thousand workers.
In its notice, the management said the decision followed vandalism and attacks on factory staff and officials amid unrest over minimum wage demands.
It alleged that, despite communications from the government and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) regarding the approval and implementation of the new minimum wage, the unrest had escalated, with outsiders allegedly instigating destructive activities.
According to the notice, protesters entered the factory premises and vandalised the facility, causing extensive damage and injuring several workers and officials.
The management said operations had been suspended under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.
Other factories reported closed indefinitely include Ecotex Limited and Ahsan Composite in the Chandra Palli Bidyut area, as well as several units under Apex Holding: Apex Spinning and Knitting Mills Ltd, Apex Textiles Printing Mills Ltd, Apex Lingerie Ltd and its extension, Apex Yarn Dyeing Ltd, and Apex Fashion Wear Ltd.
Moazuddin Textile Limited in the Mouchak area has also been closed indefinitely.
Amjad Hossain said the situation had remained largely normal during the morning. However, shortly after 8:30am, workers from Lavenda garment factory in the Telirchala area of Mouchak arrived for their shifts but did not start work.
Instead, they took to the highway and staged a blockade, halting traffic for around half an hour.
He said protesters threw bricks and stones at police when they were asked to clear the road. Police then fired tear gas shells to disperse them.
The workers fled the scene, and traffic returned to normal at around 9am, he added.