Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Persistent labour unrest shut Roshita Knitting Wear Ltd and Megha Textile Ltd, both Chinese-owned, in the country’s northern Ishwardi Export Processing Zone (EPZ).
“The continuous worker agitations of the past eight-month have hampered the exports, so the authorities have decided to close them down indefinitely,” Sumon Hossain, an executive officer of the two factories, told The Daily Star, a local newspaper.
Mahmud Hassan, Ishwardi EPZ's general manager, blamed the shutdown on the confronting workers.
“The workers defied the company and EPZ rules and continued with their unruly demonstrations. Although we tried to mediate, the workers carried on. It impacted the company's business,” Hassan told the newspaper.
Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority's efforts are underway to reopen the factories.
Earlier on March 25, the workers of the two factories clashed with the police, leaving over 100 injured.
BBN/SSR/AD-02Dec12-11:40 am (BST)