Bangladesh: 5,000 workers have charges filed against them for protest over closure of 16 factories that left 40,000 jobless and owed wages unpaid

Mamunur Rashid, Shutterstock
In December 2024, it was reported that Beximco had closed 16 factories and laid off more than 40,000 workers, amid economic crises and the arrest of the company's co-founder. Workers were not paid owed wages for several months. In response, workers launched protests against the company, resulting in cases being filed against 5,000 protesting workers in January 2025. Beximco's international buyers, including Zara's owner Inditex, declined to comment on the closure of the company's factories and the consequences for workers.
In February 2025, it was announced that Beximco Textiles closed all its factories.