At least 40 readymade garment factories in Savar and Ashulia industrial areas have been declared closed indefinitely amid labour unrest on Saturday.

Besides, five to six factories have declared a general holiday as workers refused to work, said Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of police of Ashulia Industrial Police-1.

He said no untoward incident had been reported in the industrial areas today.

The factories have been declared closed indefinitely under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, which allows employers to partially or fully close an establishment or any of its sections in the event of an illegal strike. Workers participating in the strike are not entitled to wages during the closure.

Khairul Mamun Mintoo, legal affairs secretary of the Garments and Sweaters Workers Trade Union Centre, said invoking the provision could further aggravate workers' anger.

"This provision can provoke further unrest. Workers do not receive any wages when factories remain closed under this provision," he said.