Islam Garments Closes Indefinitely Following Labour Unrest in Gazipur

An indefinite closure has been declared at the Islam Garments Limited (Unit-2) factory in Konabari, Gazipur, following prolonged labour unrest and a wildcat strike. Management suspended all production operations at the facility, which employs more than 2,000 workers, on Wednesday, 1 July.

According to an official notice circulated by the factory authorities, workers initiated an unlawful strike and ceased all production on the morning of 28 June. Despite repeated directives from management urging the workforce to resume their duties, the demonstration continued unabated until 30 June. Left with no viable alternative to guarantee institutional safety, the authorities invoked Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, shutting down the industrial unit indefinitely from 1 July. Under this specific statutory provision, often referred to as “no work, no pay”, striking employees are not entitled to wages during the closure period.

Tragic Catalyst Sparks Industrial Disputes

Law enforcement officials and labour sources revealed that the industrial dispute stems from the sudden death of a female colleague, Rubina Begum, 50. On 27 June, Rubina fell severely ill whilst performing her duties on the factory floor. She was initially administered basic first aid at the in-house medical centre before being transferred to a clinic in Konabari as her health deteriorated.

As her condition grew critical, she was referred to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Dhaka, where she passed away later that evening while undergoing treatment.

The news of her death reached the factory floor the following morning, triggering widespread anger among the workers, who immediately downed tools. The protesting employees alleged that management’s sheer negligence and a delay in providing adequate, timely medical assistance led directly to Rubina’s demise. This grievance fuelled severe tension across the manufacturing facility over the subsequent days.

The deceased worker, Rubina Begum, was the daughter of the late Sumar Ali Sarker, originally from Meghai village under the Kazipur police station in Sirajganj district. She resided in a rented house in the Jorun area of Gazipur and had been employed at Islam Garments as a sewing operator.

Heightened Security and Resolution Efforts

The closure of this major export-oriented unit has prompted authorities to deploy additional detachments of the Industrial Police and local police units outside the factory gates to deter any untoward incidents. While the workers expressed immense frustration upon reading the closure notice on Wednesday morning, the situation has remained peaceful without further outbreaks of violence. Local administration officials and law enforcement personnel are actively mediating between factory representatives and labour union leaders to resolve the deadlock and safely normalise industrial operations in the key manufacturing zone.