In Ashulia's industrial zone, most factories have resumed production, but 14 remain closed as of Wednesday, September 25.
The scene across the area showed normal operations in many factories from early morning.
According to the Industrial Police, workers began returning to their jobs at 8:00am, with production resuming in the factories that had reopened. However, 19 factories are still shut down indefinitely, while another five are observing general holidays. There have been no reports of protests or unrest in the area.
Sources from Ashulia Industrial Police-1 confirmed that most of the closed factories belong to the ready-made garment sector, with some closures resulting from financial difficulties.
In response to the situation, additional security forces have been deployed across the industrial area to maintain order.
Police, army personnel, and APBN officers are stationed in front of several factories in Narsinghpur along the Bypail-Abdullahpur road.
Khairul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union, acknowledged that the recent labour movement stemmed from multiple issues. He said that the workers’ 18-point demand list, which had been reviewed by all parties, played a key role in resolving the unrest.
Following discussions between factory owners, workers, and government officials at the Ministry of Industry, a joint announcement was made, resulting in the reopening of many factories. "We are hopeful that a stable and orderly environment will now return to the industrial area," Mintu added.
Superintendent of Industrial Police-1, Sarwar Alam, stated that the situation across Ashulia is now "very normal."
He confirmed that 14 factories remain closed under Section 13(1) of the Labor Act but will reopen soon. Of the five factories observing general holidays, four are located in the Export Processing Zone (EPZ). Most closures, Alam noted, are due to financial difficulties.
The jurisdiction of Ashulia Industrial Police-1 covers 1,863 factories, most of which are garment manufacturers. In recent weeks, workers in various factories had been protesting and striking regularly, leading to temporary closures. However, after a crucial meeting between labor representatives and factory owners at the Ministry of Labor and Employment, an agreement was reached on 18 key demands. As a result, it was announced that all industrial factories across the country would reopen, and workers in Ashulia have since returned to their jobs.