A demonstration was held on Sunday by several hundred garment workers in the Chittagong district’s Karnaphuli upazila to demand five main problems, including timely payments and wage hikes. The protest took place at the Golden Son Ltd factory in Khwajnagar around 11:30 am, with workers chanting slogans and holding banners.
The workers’ demands include an increase in wages, full and timely payment of salaries, the abolition of the two-installment wage system, and compensation equivalent to three months and 13 days’ salary for terminated employees, in accordance with government regulations.
Authorities responded by deploying police and army personnel to manage the situation, with Officer-in-Charge of Karnaphuli police station Md Sharif stating efforts were underway to bring the demonstration under control. The factory’s Human Resources Officer, Md Noman, along with other officials, declined to comment on the situation. A company spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity, mentioned that management was currently in a meeting to address the workers’ concerns and hoped to resolve the issue soon.
Chittagong Industrial Police Superintendent Mohammad Sulaiman reported that discussions had taken place with the workers, and factory management had assured the payment of dues. As of 1:15 pm, workers continued their demonstration at the factory site.
This protest comes amid ongoing industrial unrest in Chittagong, where, according to the Industrial Police, 50 garment factories have shut down over the past seven months since August 5 last year, including 18 BGMEA-affiliated factories, two under BKMEA, one BTMA member, nine in Bepza, and 22 others. Two factories have been permanently closed.
