Dhaka, Sept 02 (V7N): In response to escalating tensions, the Bangladesh Army, along with the police and industrial police units, will initiate a joint operation tonight in the areas of Savar, Ashulia, and Gazipur. This move aims to secure the ready-made garment (RMG) factories, following instructions from Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. The directive was announced by BGMEA President Khandaker Rafiqul Islam after a meeting at the Secretariat earlier today.

During the meeting, which involved representatives from the BGMEA and BKMEA, the home adviser stressed the importance of immediate action to bring those causing unrest to justice. He also urged factory owners to keep their facilities operational from tomorrow to maintain economic momentum.

Earlier today, job-seeking workers protested in Ashulia, blocking the Nabinagar-Chandra and Baipail-Abdullahpur roads, and demanding equal job opportunities for men and women in the RMG sector. The protests began this morning as workers gathered in front of various factories along the Dhaka EPZ and Baipail-Abdullahpur roads.

The situation escalated when the protesters placed barricades at multiple points on the roads and began throwing stones at factories, leading to severe traffic congestion. According to industrial police, at least 30 factories in the area were forced to shut down for the day due to the unrest.

While law enforcement and army personnel were able to clear the Baipail-Abdullahpur road, the blockade near DEPZ on the Nabinagar-Chandra road persisted at the time of this report. Md Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Industrial Police-1, confirmed to the media that efforts are ongoing to resolve the situation, and that at least 30 factories, including those operated by Hamim Group and Sharmin Group, declared a holiday amid the chaos.

He further stated that the protests primarily revolve around demands for employment and equal pay for men and women in garment factories. The authorities are continuing their efforts to manage and de-escalate the situation.

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