Production will resume on Thursday in all factories, except Evergreen Products Factory (BD) Ltd, following labour unrest that left one worker dead and several others injured, in Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ).

The decision came at an emergency meeting held at the EPZ zone office conference room on Wednesday, attended by representatives of workers, employees, and management of Evergreen Products Factory, officials from the district administration, law enforcement agencies, the army, political parties, and civil society, according to a press release issued this night.

Workers of Evergreen Products staged a demonstration on Wednesday  at the main gate of the EPZ over a set of demands, disrupting vehicular movement on the highway and halting overall operations, including import and export activities. The situation escalated into clashes with security forces, leading to the death of a worker, identified as Ahsan Habib, and injuries to several others, the press release said.

In the meeting, factory management agreed to meet the “just and logical” demands of the workers and pledged to reopen the factory on 6 September. They also provided Tk 2 lakh as initial compensation to the legal guardian of the deceased worker and assured that all medical expenses of the injured would be covered.

EPZ authorities announced that other factories in the zone will operate as usual from Thursday to restore normal production activities and maintain a conducive investment climate.

Chinese company to invest $28 million in Uttara EPZ

Meanwhile, a four-member committee has been formed by BEPZA to investigate the incident and determine the actual causes of the unrest.

Meeting participants urged all workers to return to work immediately in the interest of the nation and to keep the export-oriented industrial zone operational and stable.