Garment workers from Eurotex Knitwear Ltd in Fatullah staged a significant protest on Wednesday, blocking the Dhaka-Narayanganj road in the Shibumarket area from noon until 6:00 PM. The demonstration, involving several hundred workers, aimed to demand the reinstatement of dismissed colleagues, the withdrawal of legal cases against them, and the reopening of their factory. The protest led to substantial traffic disruptions on this busy route.
This marks the second protest in just three days, following a similar blockade in Chashara on Monday that lasted for three hours. Workers reported ongoing labour unrest at Eurotex, located in Nayamati, which employs over 4,000 individuals.
The unrest escalated on 10th February when workers staged a demonstration inside the factory, advocating for the payment of due wages and other benefits. In response, factory management issued show-cause notices and suspended several workers. Subsequently, a notice was posted declaring the factory closed under Section 13(1) of the Labour Act, while legal action was initiated against some protesting workers on charges of vandalism.
Workers have alleged that the accusations against them are unfounded and that they were dismissed for asserting their rights. Despite previous assurances from the factory’s management and local authorities, no resolution has been reached, leading to claims of threats against some workers.
The blockade was eventually lifted around 5:30 PM, but it took an additional 30 minutes for traffic to fully normalise. Fatullah Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shariful Islam confirmed that the workers had blocked the road in their demand for the factory’s reopening and the withdrawal of legal cases, stating they agreed to lift the blockade after receiving assurances of a resolution.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Hatem, President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), stated that efforts are underway to collaboratively address the labour unrest at Eurotex Knitwear Ltd.
