At least 30 ready-made garment factories in Konabari, Kashimpur, Jorun and Zirani areas of Gazipur have been closed indefinitely due to the growing unrest, while more than 200 workers of Tusuka Group Limited have been licensed.

Six factories belonging to the Tusuka Group in Konabari were closed due to labor unrest on November 3. These include Tusuka Jeans, Tusuka Pants, Tusuka Processing, Tusuka Packaging, Tusuka Denim and Tusuka Washing.

Today, 239 workers have been fired from these factories, with their names posted at the main entrance.

According to the notices from the closed factories, the workers were involved in disruptive activities such as threats, fighting and creating chaos, which were considered illegal under the Bangladesh Labor Act. This led the factory management to shut down operations for safety reasons.

On November 4, MM Knitwear, Mamun Knitwear and Makul Knitwear stores in Konabari were also closed due to worker protests.

The Islam Group also closed five factories in Gazipur, including Islam Garments (weaving unit), Islam Garments (unit 2), Islam Garments (textile division), Islam Knit Design and Islam Garments (knitwear division).

RMG sources say protests by Islam and Tusuka workers have intensified recently. While the Islam Group responded to all of the workers’ demands, Tusuka responded to only a few, but both groups were forced to close all their factories due to the continuing unrest.

Factories in Kashimpur such as Dorin Apparels and Dorin Garments were also closed recently, along with others like Rezaul Apparels, Fashion Summit and several others in Gazipur.

Factory management and industrial police said Tusuka Group factories in Konabari were closed on November 3 under Article 13(1) of the Labor Law. After several days of closure, 239 workers were fired due to their involvement in the unrest.

The workers, after learning of the layoffs, gathered in front of the factories to express their anger.

Billal Hossain, one of the affected workers, said he received a message at 8 p.m. on Wednesday informing him of his dismissal, effective November 6.

Tarek Hasan, director of Tusuka Group, said: “The dismissals were due to workers engaging in violence, vandalism and creating chaos, even after some of their demands were met. »

Md Abu Taleb, senior deputy superintendent of police of Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Konabari zone, told TBS that additional police forces have been deployed to avoid unrest following the layoffs. Intelligence monitoring is also in place.

A senior BGMEA official said the closures were not related to salaries or benefits. Instead, workers demanded the removal of middle and senior managers.

After each demand was met, new ones were presented, leading factory owners to announce closures under the “no work, no pay” provision of the labor law, a he added.

BGMEA engaged with factory owners in Gazipur and local law enforcement to better understand the situation and decide on next steps.