All factories in the Uttara Export Processing Zone of Nilphamari have reopened today.
At the same time, the unrest-hit Evergreen Products Factory Ltd would resume operations on September 6, said Uttara EPZ executive director Md Abdul Jabbar Khan.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, he also said that the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority had formed a four-member committee to investigate the root causes of the unrest.
On Tuesday, the workers of Evergreen Products Factory staged a sit-in in front of the main gate of Uttara EPZ, pressing for various demands, including against layoffs and factory closure.
The sit-in turned into unrest, and a factory worker was killed, leaving 25 others injured when law enforcers allegedly opened fire on workers during a clash.
The deceased was identified as Ahsan Habib, 32, a worker of a knitting factory named Ecu International in the EPZ.
The statement also said that to ensure safety for workers, employees, and officials, production at all factories in the EPZ was suspended on September 3.
An emergency meeting was later convened at the EPZ office to resolve the crisis and restore a stable, investment-friendly environment with the presence of representatives from Evergreen鈥檚 workers, employees, management, factory owners, district administration, armed forces, law enforcement agencies, political parties, and members of civil society.
Following discussions, the Evergreen management agreed to meet the just and reasonable demands of the workers and pledged to restart factory operations on September 6.
鈥楳eanwhile, to restore production activities and maintain the country鈥檚 image in the global market, the EPZ authorities decided to reopen all factories inside the EPZ on September 4 (Thursday),鈥� the statement added.
Moreover, as an immediate measure, the family of the deceased worker, Ahsan Habib, was provided Tk聽200,000 in compensation by Evergreen.
At the same time, the company is also committed to covering all medical expenses for the injured workers.
Around 32,000 workers are employed in some 26 operational factories in the Uttara EPZ.
