Bangladesh: Nearly 100 factories shut down, leaving around 62,000 workers jobless
"95 factories shut down in 7 months, leaving around 62,000 jobless", 5 March 2025
Over the past seven months, 95 factories in Gazipur, Savar, Narayanganj, and Narsingdi have permanently shut down, while several others have temporarily ceased operations.
As a result, around 62,000 workers have lost their jobs, with most yet to receive their outstanding wages and service benefits, which include financial compensation after termination of employment.
There are three primary reasons behind these closures. First, many factories shut down due to financial crises and a lack of purchase orders. Second, factories owned by individuals associated with Awami League politics were vandalised and set on fire, forcing them to close. Third, some factories fell into disrepair as their owners—businessmen with ties to the ousted Awami League government—went into hiding...
In response to job losses and unpaid wages, unemployed workers frequently take to the streets to protest, demanding the reopening of factories and the settlement of outstanding dues...
According to Industrial Police-4, 21 factories—including Green Bangla Home Tex Industries, Asian Falcon Garments, GL Fashion, Master Textile, West Best Attire, and Star Cutting and Engineering—have closed in the past seven months. These were primarily small and medium-sized factories, forced to shut down due to financial crises and a lack of purchase orders.
Additionally, several units of two factories belonging to Gazi Group, owned by Golam Dastagir Gazi, former Textile and Jute Minister under the ousted Awami League government, have also been closed...
Gazipur, home to 2,176 registered factories, has been particularly affected. Of these, 1,154 are ready-made garment (RMG) factories. Since last August, 54 factories—mostly from the RMG and textile sector—have shut down, leading to 45,732 job losses.