Labour unrest intensifies

The interim government warned of tough steps against anarchy as around 200 factories suspended production yesterday amid labour unrest in Gazipur, Savar and Ashulia.
“We have not forgotten that a government does not use force against the citizens. But in the given situation, stern action has to be taken against certain people in order to save factories, workers and the economy.  We discussed it,” local government Adviser AF Hassan Arif said after an emergency meeting.
Five other advisers, top police and intelligence officers attended the meeting at the home ministry yesterday, the fifth consecutive day of labour unrest.
Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said at least 167 factories remained shut in Ashulia, Jirabo, Savar, and Gazipur.
Besides, over a dozen pharmaceutical factories also remained closed.
According to the BGMEA, the factories would resume production today.
At least 50 factories were closed on Tuesday and 100 the day before.
Hundreds of workers and what the authorities termed as outsiders have been demonstrating since Saturday, demanding better pay and regularisation.
The unrest is mainly affecting the garment and pharmaceutical companies.
Yesterday, at least 60 factories closed in Ashulia, reports our Savar correspondent.
From 8:00am, demonstrating workers of different factories at Baipail and Zirabo began marching to different factories and urging other workers to join the protests.
By 11:30am, there were demonstrations at multiple places on Baipail-Abdullahpur road, causing long tailbacks.
Industrial police, army and border guards were deployed in the area.
Workers blocked Nabinagar-Chandra highway at Palashbari around midday, Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Gazipur around 7:30am, and Bhogra bypass road around the same time.
Many factories were closed in Gazipur, police told our Gazipur correspondent.
GOVT TO GO TOUGH
After the emergency meeting, Hassan Arif said most of those who are involved in the unrest are outsiders.
“Who will benefit if the factories are destroyed? The workers are not creating chaos. Most of those who are doing this are outsiders,” he said.
Addressing the workers, he said, “You stop them. If you stop them, we will be by your side.”
He then remarked that the workers and outsiders are so mixed that it is hard to separate them.
As a reporter asked what kind of steps would be taken, he said, “We have to think more about it. They can be arrested or detained. If 50 people sit on the road, five lakh suffer. You have to use force to remove them.”
Five other advisers who attended the meeting are Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury of home ministry, Prof Asif Nazrul of law, Farida Akhter of fisheries and livestock, Adilur Rahman Khan, of industries, and Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, of labour and employment.