Factory owners blamed the outsiders are using fake Identity (ID) cards to enter in current RMG sector unrest for making problem and anarchy in RMG sector causing huge economic losses in last few days. Garment owners allege that many of these saboteurs are not garment workers. Industrial Police chief Additional Inspector General of Police MD. Mahabubor Rahman said maximum arrested individuals are identified as outsiders. These miscreants are using political advantage to create anarchy in the country. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Khandaker Rafiqul Islam told The Shuttle Times that “outsiders” had gathered in front of factories to demand jobs and pressure factory workers to leave work and join with them. “Some people are trying to get illegal benefits, creating such unrest. We already talked with the concerned authorities and they assured us that necessary steps would be taken in this regard,” he said.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has instructed factory owners located in Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur to keep their factories open from tomorrow (Thursday).
The BGMEA made the call after an emergency meeting with the factory owners at their office BGMEA Complex was held at Wednesday evening.
The garment makers platform suggested the factory owners to take assistance from the law enforcing agencies in case of any unrest.
BGMEA President Khandaker Rafiqul Islam announced this decision on Wednesday in a press conference which held after the meeting.
He said, it has been decided to open all the garment factories closed under Section 13/1 of the Labor Act from tomorrow (Thursday). Those who come to work will be given the opportunity to work.
Around 8,000 Rohingyas have recently crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing armed conflict in Myanmar Rakhine state, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said today.
“I have information that around 8,000 Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh. We will have a serious discussion at the cabinet within the next 2-3 days (regarding this),” he told reporters at the foreign ministry this afternoon.
The adviser said that Bangladesh has decided, in principle, not to shelter any more forcibly displaced Rohingyas.
While expressing sympathy for the persecuted Rohingya, he stressed that Bangladesh no longer has the capacity to provide humanitarian shelter to additional refugees.
At least 105 factories have been shut down in three days for an indefinite period amid worker unrest for an additional amount outside the wage structure. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Vice President (Finance) Md. Nasir Uddin told The Shuttle Times that at least 25 factories have been closed on Tuesday in Gazipur area while 15 factories have closed on Monday and 65 factories have closed on Sunday. Industrial Police chief Additional Inspector General of Police MD. Mahabubor Rahman said the authorities have closed 25 garment factories for short times in Ashulia, Savar and Dhamrai due to workers protests. BGMEA PR Director Shovon Islam said some factories in and outside those areas facing workers unrest demanding an additional payment beyond the wage structure.