Dhaka, Sep 11 (V7N)- Amid ongoing labor unrest, a total of 114 factories in Savar, Ashulia, and Gazipur have shut down as of 12 PM today, according to a source from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Of these, 54 garment factories were closed under section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, which permits owners to shut down operations due to illegal strikes, denying wages to participating workers. Meanwhile, 60 factories have declared paid leave.

Across the country, 2,028 factories remain operational, although two have halted work despite staying open.

In Ashulia, groups like Sharmin Group, Ananta Group, Mondal, and Lusaka Group announced indefinite closures of 22 factories. Eight additional factories, which had opened this morning, declared holidays by 11 AM as workers refused to work due to their demands.

Notices about the closures were posted on factory gates late last night and early this morning. Industry insiders predict more factories might close as the day progresses.

Superintendent of Industrial Police-1, Md Sarwar Alam, confirmed the situation, noting that 22 factories had officially declared closures under section 13(1) today.

Workers arriving at factories this morning found closure notices posted without prior warning. A senior industry official suggested that the actual number of closures could be higher, as some groups operate multiple factories.

Beximco Industrial Park workers also protested today, blocking the Nabinagar-Chandra highway, causing long traffic jams.

According to industry sources, many factory owners decided to close their factories after worker unrest escalated, invoking section 13(1). While the issue was raised during a BGMEA meeting, no collective decision was made, and factory owners were forced to act independently to safeguard workers and industry assets.

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