The workers of Pacific Casuals Limited staged a demonstration for an increase in food and medical allowances in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone in the district on Monday.
The protest also escalated into a confrontation with the workers of NHT Fashion Ltd in the CEPZ, leading to a violent altercation.
At least 400 workers from both groups, armed with bricks and sticks, gathered outside the factory, and threw bricks chunks at each other.
Md Rafiqul Anwar, a Pacific Casuals worker, said that they had asked for fair overtime compensation for additional shifts in the cutting section. 鈥業nstead of shutting down the factory, the authorities concerned should consider our requests.鈥�
The NHT Fashion Ltd workers, however, argued that the authorities concerned had already addressed several concerns in the past month.
Sobahan, a worker from the NHT Fashion, said, 鈥楢s repeated protests will only provoke the authorities, the workers of NHT Fashion did not allow them to disrupt operations.鈥�
Mentioning that the situation is now under control, Chattogram industrial police superintendent, Mohammad Sulaiman, said, 鈥榃e are working to mediate a resolution.鈥�
Abdus Sobhan, executive director of the CEPZ, said that they spoke to the factory owners. 鈥楾hey have indicated that the operations will resume within three days.鈥�
Syed Mohammed Tahmir, managing director of Pacific Casuals Limited, however, could not be reached over phone despite several attempts.
The unrest began on Sunday when Pacific Casuals Limited workers staged a protest for increasing food and medical allowances along with other benefits.
Later that night, the authorities of Pacific Casuals Limited issued a notice, declaring the closure of the factory.