Several hundred workers from a readymade garment factory in Ashulia, located on the outskirts of Dhaka, blocked the Dhaka-Tangail Highway for five hours on Monday, demanding their termination benefits. The protest began around 10:00 AM as workers from Sharmin Group took to the streets to voice their grievances.
According to witnesses and local police, the protest disrupted traffic significantly, prompting law enforcement to intervene. After five hours of blockage, police utilised water cannons and baton charges to disperse the crowd and restore traffic flow.
Superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police, Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, noted that workers had been observing a work stoppage at the factory for several days, which had impacted production.
The unrest stemmed from the factory management’s decision to suspend 453 workers and issue show-cause notices following incidents of unrest and vandalism at the facility. The workers claimed that despite their suspensions, they had not received any termination benefits.
Md Ismail Hossain, the executive director of Sharmin Group, explained that the unrest began after a food service issue during a wedding feast held on January 3 for his elder brother and AK Azad’s son, owner of the Ha-Meem Group. He alleged that mismanagement led to demonstrations and subsequent vandalism within the factory.
Ismail stated that the management had served show-cause notices under Labor Act Section 23, while the workers were protesting for termination benefits under Section 26.
Nazma Akter, president of the Sammilita Garment Sramik Federation, indicated that a tripartite negotiation had previously been established, wherein factory owners agreed to pay termination benefits to the affected workers.
Sharmin Group employs over 16,000 workers across various RMG units, including Sharmin Fashions Ltd and Sharmin Apparels Ltd. Tofazzel Hossaain, a quality controller injured during the vandalism, has filed a case with Ashulia police against three workers involved in the incident.
