the Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) on Saturday. The confrontation began around 9 AM and escalated throughout the morning, prompting the deployment of army personnel to restore order.
EPZ Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman stated, “The unrest was triggered by a disagreement over the opening of a main gate at one of the factories. What started as a verbal dispute quickly intensified, leading to physical altercations and the throwing of bricks. Several individuals were injured and required medical attention.”
The situation has since stabilised, with military forces present to maintain peace. The police are currently investigating the incident.
Reports from police and labour sources indicate that workers from multiple factories in the area had been protesting for several days, demanding a 9 per cent increase in their annual salaries. Some factory management agreed to the workers’ demands, which led to similar protests breaking out in other facilities.
Monir Hosen, an emergency department staff member at CMCH, reported that injured workers started arriving at the hospital around noon, where they received urgent medical care.
In response to the clash, authorities have temporarily closed two factories within CEPZ. The Marimo factory will be shut for three days, while the JMS factory will be closed for two days. Abdus Sobhan, executive director of CEPZ, characterized the incident as a minor misunderstanding among workers.
“The owners have taken steps to address the situation, and the atmosphere is now peaceful. Both factories have been granted time off to relieve tensions,” Sobhan noted. Industrial Police Superintendent Md Sulaiman added that the closures aim to prevent any further escalation, and factory owners plan to convene to discuss solutions to the workers’ internal disputes.
