Workers of the Pacific Jeans Group staged demonstrations in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone on Saturday, demanding the reopening of eight factories of the group that had been declared closed indefinitely by the authorities.
Workers from various units of group gathered in front of their respective factory gates at about 9:00am and began protests. Later, they dispersed following discussions with officials of the police and the CEPZ authorities.
CEPZ executive director Abdus Sobhan said that several factories of Pacific Jeans Group were declared closed, but many workers were unaware of the decision. They came in the morning to join work and demanded that the factories be reopened. After discussions with the Industrial Police and CEPZ authorities, they left the area.
CEPZ police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Jamir Hossain Zia said that about 700 to 800 workers had gathered near the closed factories in the morning. They assembled and demonstrated for some time, and later left after talks with the police and administration.
On Thursday evening, the Pacific Jeans Group authorities announced an indefinite shutdown of eight factories in the CEPZ following worker protests and clashes earlier in the week. The closure, effective from Saturday, was declared through eight notices signed by managing director Syed Mohammed Tanvir.
The closed factories are Pacific Jeans Ltd, Pacific Jeans Ltd (Unit-2), Pacific Attires Ltd, Pacific Accessories, Pacific Workwears Ltd, Universal Jeans Ltd, NHT Fashions Ltd, and Jeans 2000 Ltd.
More than 35,000 workers are employed across the eight factories of the Pacific Jeans Group.