DHAKA, Sept 25 (The Voice) — Bangladesh’s troubled garment sector was rocked this week after NASSA Group abruptly closed 16 factories, leaving about 12,000 workers out of work and sparking protests that led to seven arrests.
Police in Savar, outside Dhaka, said the arrests on Thursday targeted “saboteurs and miscreants” who had infiltrated demonstrations at NASSA’s factories in the Ashulia industrial belt. Workers had blocked roads a day earlier demanding unpaid wages and the reopening of the shuttered plants. Police used water cannons to disperse them.
Officials said the closures were formalized Tuesday at a tripartite meeting involving the labor ministry, factory owners, and union representatives. Under the agreement, workers are supposed to receive wages for August by October 15 and September by October 30, with no blacklisting of employees.
But labor groups expressed anger at the sudden shutdown and the arrests. “Closing factories without an alternative plan is a mistake,” said Khairul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Sweater Workers Union. He urged the government to appoint administrators to keep factories operating or to arrange alternative jobs.
A major employer collapses
Founded in 1990, NASSA Group was once a top exporter in Bangladesh’s $47 billion ready-made garment industry. But the conglomerate has been under strain since the ouster of the Awami League government in August 2024, with banks restricting letters of credit and foreign buyers delaying orders.
Chairman Nazrul Islam Mazumder, a former EXIM Bank chief, is in jail facing charges including corruption and money laundering. The group’s financial squeeze led to repeated wage delays, worker protests, and now a full shutdown.
Authorities say Mazumder has approved the sale of assets, including land in Dhaka and Ashulia, to pay workers. “The owners sought time, but a small group instigated violence, injuring police and even attacking army personnel,” said Dhaka district police chief Anisuzzaman.
Political and social stakes
The closures highlight the fragility of Bangladesh’s garment industry, which employs over 4 million people and supplies brands from Europe and the United States. For the Awami League, still seeking to reassert itself after last year’s upheaval, the crisis underscores the need to protect workers.
Analysts say the government’s credibility hinges on ensuring workers are paid quickly and are not punished for protesting. “This is a test of whether Bangladesh can balance investor confidence with justice for its workers,” said one Dhaka-based labor researcher.
With international buyers watching closely, unions warn that simply shuttering factories is not a solution. “We demand either reopening the factories or arranging alternative employment,” Mintu said.
However, the immediate future for thousands of displaced workers remains uncertain, with critics alleging that the pro-Islamist interim government is targeting pro–Awami League supporters and their businesses.
