Workers of Birds Group in the Ashulia industrial area blocked the Nabinagar-Chandra highway this morning, demanding arrears and reopening of the factory. The demonstration started around 9:30am at the Baipail and Savar DOHS areas, and as of 12:30pm, the protest was still taking place, said Abu Bakar Siddique, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station. Members of law enforcement are working to restore normal traffic flow, he added.
The protest follows a notice issued by Birds Group on August 27, citing financial difficulties caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and the global economic downturn. The company stated it had been operating at a loss for some time and was unable to secure new work orders. As a result, the company announced the closure of its subsidiaries, including RNR Fashions Ltd, Birds Garments Ltd, Birds Fedrex Ltd, and Bird's A&Z Ltd, effective August 28, reports our Savar correspondent quoting police.
One of the protesting workers said that the factory had been closed without paying workers their wages for the last three months. "We are protesting to demand our dues and the reopening of the factory. If our demands are not met, we will continue the demonstration," he said.
Khairul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garments Workers Trade Union Centre, told The Daily Star that a meeting was held with the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and othe.