The industries adviser to the interim government, Adilur Rahman Khan, has warned that anyone attempting to shut down factories to destabilise the government and harm the economy will be remembered. "The government will implement special measures to tackle the labour unrest in ready-made garment (RMG) factories," said Adilur, while speaking at a views exchange meeting on "Ongoing crisis in RMG factories and potential solutions" held at BGMEA Building in Uttara on Saturday. The meeting also unanimously decided that all garment factories in the country will be open from tomorrow (Sunday). However, for the sake of the country and its industries, and to protect jobs, if the workers in a  particular factory do not work, leave the factory without working, or create chaos in the factory, only then the owner of that factory can take steps according to the labour Act 13 (1) or no work no pay basis. BGMEA president Khandaker Rafiqul Islam presided over the view-exchange meeting with three of the advisers of the interim government - Industry adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Fisheries and Livestock adviser Farida Akhtar and Labor and Employment adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Labor Secretary A HM Safiquzzaman, Major General Moin Khan, NDC, PAC, GOC, Ninth Infantry Division, head of  Industrial  Police Sigat Ullah, BKMEA President, Past Presidents of BGMEA, Board of Directors members of BGMEA and general members of BGMEA participated in the event.

Despite the announcement of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to open all the readymade garment (RMG) factories in Ashulia and Bypail from today, around 40 factories closed after opening in the morning due to unrest.The overall situation in the area, however, has improved compared to the last few days. Yesterday around 70 factories were forced to close after opening in the morning due to security reasons.“The situation on Tuesday is much more normal compared to previous days. Most factories opened this morning. Some factories have been closed since yesterday, and due to an unsuccessful meeting between the factory owners and the workers, about 21 factories declared a holiday today (Tuesday),” said Md Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Industrial Police-1. There are 2145 member factories of BGMEA across the country. Except Ashulia and Bypail areas, production in all factories in other parts of Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chattogram are in full swing. The production of around 68 factories out of 407, was once again hampered on Monday due to labour unrest in the Ashulia and Bypail areas.The BGMEA president Khandoker Rafiqul Islam told UNB that they are determined to keep open garment factories in Ashulia and other parts of Gazipur. But some factories had to close today due to unrest.The valid demands of workers will be met and the law enforcement forces, factory owners, and BGMEA representatives are working together to improve the situation, he said.

Most garment factories in Ashulia industrial area returned to production on Sunday as workers joined the work. The workers of various garment factories including those at Dhaka EPZ joined their respective factories this morning. However, workers of two to three garment factories are still observing strike today. In Ashulia's Narsinghpur area, production has stopped due to declaration of general holiday in several factories. Meanwhile, police have confirmed the arrest of four more people in connection with the workers' unrest. Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Ashulia Industrial (Police-1) said there was no problem anywhere in this area. However, there is trouble inside some factories where the management is unable to resolve the problems within the organization, he added. Four people were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of involvement in destabilizing the garment sector. They are Motaleb Hossain, 25, of Debiganj of Panchagarh district, Salim Reza, 21, of Panchbibi of Joypurhat district, Md Rusel, 23, of Char Fasson of Bhola district and Liton Kumar Das, 23, of Atrai of Naogaon district. Apart from this, the members of the army, BGB, RAB and our industrial police remain vigilant in the places where there is a possibility of unrest.

Despite extensive efforts to keep garment factories operational, around 45 factories in the Ashulia and Bypail areas were forced to close on Saturday due to ongoing labor unrest. However, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has announced that all garment factories will remain open on Sunday, operating as usual. Speaking to UNB, BGMEA President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the army and industrial police in ensuring security for industrial production. "We appreciate the role of the army and industrial police in safeguarding our factories," he said. Despite reopening all garment factories on Saturday morning, 45 of them had to shut down again by 10 am due to disruptions caused by external agitators, he noted. BGMEA Director Shovon Islam added that while most factories across the country remained operational on Saturday, the Ashulia area faced issues related to salary payments. BGMEA is working closely with the government to resolve these problems quickly, he said. He expressed optimism that production in garment factories would resume fully from Sunday and that the unrest would gradually subside. To address security concerns, the BGMEA has established a coordination cell involving the army, industrial police, intelligence agencies, factory owners, and other law enforcement bodies. This area-wise setup is designed to respond swiftly to any incidents of insecurity or unrest, ensuring the stability of factory operations.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has decided to keep all garment factories open like regular times. Though around 120 garment factories in Ashulia’s Bypail areas had remained closed on Thursday, BGMEA decided to keep factories open like normal time, said Shovon Islam, Director of BGMEA, after a meeting on the latest situation of the industry on Thursday evening. BGMEA expressed gratitude to the Army, police, and residents of Ashulia, Bypail, Abdullapur, Tongi, and Gazipur for their support in ensuring that both factory owners and workers could continue their activities without major disruptions. Another BGMEA director, speaking to UNB on condition of anonymity, revealed that external agitators attempted to sabotage several RMG factories in the Ashulia area on Thursday. These disturbances forced the shutdown of approximately 120 factories that had initially opened in the morning, he explained. The director further alleged that a workers’ group associated with former minister Shajahan Khan was behind the unrest, making unreasonable demands and inciting disturbances in the factories. Following the arrest of several young workers linked to this group, the detainees reportedly confessed to police that they were being paid and provoked by certain individuals to carry out attacks on the factories. According to sources, garment factories in Gazipur and other areas, aside from Ashulia, remained open and operated as usual.

The leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have expressed concern over recent labour unrest and subsequent road blockades by workers, which led to severe traffic congestion and public inconvenience. They also urged the factory owners to ensure timely payment of wages and allowances, to conduct regular meetings with workers to foster harmonious industrial relations, and to collaborate with industrial police to address and resolve disputes. They made this call at a view-exchange meeting held at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara in the city on Tuesday, said a press release on Wednesday. The representatives from Bangladesh Army, Industrial Police, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the Deputy Commissioner Offices of Dhaka and Gazipur districts, DGFI, NSI, Community Policing on RMG, and different garment factories were present in the meeting presided over by BGMEA President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam. In the meeting, it was unanimously agreed that any issues or conflicts between owners and workers regarding wages or other matters should be resolved through discussion among all representatives concerend. It is said that all parties committed to working together to maintain fair labour conditions. BGMEA senior vice president Abdullah Hil Rakib, vice presidents Nasir Uddin, Asif Ashraf, Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, former vice president Moshiul Azam (Sajal), and BGMEA current board directors attended the meeting.

Khandaker Rafiqul Islam has been nominated as new president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). The decision was taken in an emergency meeting of the BGMEA Board of Directors held at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka on Saturday, following the resignation of the president of the trade body S.M. Mannan (Kochi). Earlier, President S.M. Mannan submitted his resignation to the BGMEA Board, citing the need for long-term medical treatment. During the meeting, the Board unanimously accepted his resignation and nominated Khandaker Rafiqul Islam as the new president who served as the Senior Vice-President of BGMEA. Abdullah Hil Rakib, formerly a Vice-President, was unanimously promoted to the position of Senior Vice-President, while Asif Ashraf was elevated from Director to Vice-President. The Vice-Presidents of the board are as follows, Syed Nazrul Islam, First Vice-President, Abdullah Hil Rakib, Senior Vice-President, Arshad Jamal (Dipu), Vice-President, Md. Nasir Uddin , Vice-President (Finance), Miran Ali, Vice-President, Asif Ashraf, Vice-President, Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, Vice-President.

New Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Abdur Rahman Khan has directed the concerned authorities to make customs related services faster and easier to ensure a congenial business environment. He said that if a business-friendly environment is created, it would lead to an increase in trade, investment, and new employment. He also said that the National Board of Revenue will seriously consider the recommendations of the BGMEA delegation, according to the BGMEA. A delegation of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) led by acting President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam met with the NBR Chairman and discussed the issues. In a meeting held at the NBR office in Dhaka on Monday, issues related to customs and bonds, especially problems and hassles being faced by the garment entrepreneurs, were discussed. They requested NBR’s assistance in resolving the issues.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has requested the RMG owners to keep their factories open from Wednesday. BGMEA took the decision at an emergency meeting held between 5 pm to 7 pm on Tuesday, BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel told UNB. Earlier on August 4, BGMEA asked the factory owners to keep their establishments closed considering the safety and security of the workers. "In view of the prevailing situation, the owners are requested to keep all the garment factories across the country closed until further notice, keeping in mind the overall safety and security of the workers," Mohiuddin Rubel said.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has requested the RMG owners to keep their factories closed considering the safety and security of the workers. "In view of the prevailing situation, the owners have been requested to keep all the garment factories across the country closed until further notice, keeping in mind the overall safety and security of the workers," BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel told UNB. The decision will be in place until further notice.