"Protests and factory closures mark garment industry crisis", 14 September, 2024

Over the past two weeks, Bangladesh’s dissatisfied garment industry workers have increasingly turned to protests, culminating on Wednesday with a chemical warehouse set on fire in Kashimpur...

...The workers, who are protesting over back wages, prevented fire services from extinguishing the blaze at the Big-Boss factory, part of the Beximco Group,..

...The unrest has led to the closure of 183 garment factories, including 54 in the Savar-Ashulia-Jirani area, and 12 in Gazipur. Many workers were laid off because of lack of work...

...The crisis was sparked by the change of government after the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which enabled workers to voice their demands; the latter include attendance bonuses, meal allowances, increases in nightshift pay, wage adjustments, and lighter duties for pregnant workers...

...Joint General Secretary of the Garment Workers Trade Union Centre, said that although a compromise was reached in a tripartite meeting, factories were closed without reason when workers returned....