Seven garment factories in Ashulia and Savar industrial areas have been announced closed amid ongoing labour unrest on Thursday.
Notices announcing the closures under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act have also been put up at the factories.
According to workers and industrial police sources, three factories belonging to Arunima Group in Zirabo, Ashulia -- Arunima Sports Wear Ltd, DMC Apparels Ltd and DMC Wash Ltd -- were closed indefinitely from November 12.
Jeans Manufacturing Company Ltd, a garment factory in the Padma Mor area of Hemayetpur, Savar, was also closed under the same provision from Thursday.
Meanwhile, three factories of Newage Group in Nishchintapur, Ashulia -- Newage Garments Ltd, Newage Apparels Ltd and Keilock Newage Bangladesh Ltd -- have remained closed indefinitely since November 10.
Section 13(1) of the labour law allows employers to close an establishment, wholly or partly, in the event of an illegal strike in any section or department. Workers who participate in the illegal strike are not entitled to wages for the period of the closure.
Confirming the closures of the seven factories under the provision amid the labour unrest, Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of police of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, said that discussions had been held with the factory authorities.
The factories would reopen once the situation returned to normal, he said.
However, Khairul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Sweaters Workers Trade Union Centre, said invoking Section 13(1) could further aggravate tensions among workers.
"This provision can provoke unrest. Workers do not receive any wages while factories remain closed under this provision," he said.
Speaking about the overall situation in the Ashulia industrial belt, Mohammad Tariqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station, said around 11:30am that the situation had improved considerably.
Workers from three to four factories had again left their workplaces without working, he said, adding that production was continuing at the larger factories and the situation remained normal so far.