Grameen Knitwear Ltd, a top garment factory in Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), was shut down sine die yesterday after workers staged violent demonstrations over wages.
The factory authorities declared the indefinite closure after the workers vandalised the factory and looted goods, Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station, told The Daily Star.
Several hundred workers began staging protests at the factory from 9:00am on Tuesday asking for a 10 percent increase in their wages, said the policeman.
They also demanded their lunch allowance to be raised to Tk 1,500 from Tk 500 and an increase of Tk 300 in transport allowance, Sirajul said.
Factory officials were beaten up by the workers when they tried to prevent them from ransacking furniture and machinery.
Later, police reached the spot and brought the situation under control, though the workers refused to resume work.
The workers looted at least 7,000 pieces of T-shirts along with some electronic tools and gadgets, claimed Kutub Khan Chowdhury, deputy general manager of the company.
"We have met some of their demands but the workers are demanding 10 percent share of the factory," he said.
"We will decide whether to reopen the factory or not after our managing director, who is out of the country, returns on July 25," Kutub Khan said.
No case was filed in this connection yesterday.
Export-oriented composite knitwear factory Grameen Knitwear Ltd is one of the Grameen family of organisations.
Source : The Daily Star
