In the wake of continued worker demonstrations, eight factories of Pacific Group located in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (EPZ) have been declared closed indefinitely.
The management made the announcement late Thursday night, and it will be followed from Saturday.
The factories listed for closure include Pacific Jeans-1, Pacific Jeans-2, Pacific Attires, Pacific Accessories, Pacific Workwears, Universal Jeans, HT Fashion, and Jeans 2000.
Chief Operating Officer Suhrid Chowdhury said a temporary closure was initially announced following Thursday’s unrest. However, later in the evening, the management decided to extend the shutdown indefinitely considering the overall situation.
From 9am to 1pm on Thursday, workers of the factories staged demonstrations in different parts of the EPZ area, halting production. Reports also emerged of attacks on factory officials during the protest.
According to the closure notice, on 14 October, a section of workers unlawfully stopped work and began a strike.
Despite repeated announcements asking them to resume duties, the workers refused to comply and continued ‘unruly behavior’ on 15 and 16 October.
Eventually, clashes broke out among workers, leading to vandalism inside the factories and physical assaults on officials and employees.
