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Spillover effects

Commotion from sick industries, 'jhoot' traders behind destruction

Refayet Ullah Mirdha
Workers of a few sick and sub-contracting factories and some local "jhoot" (garment rejects) traders together vandalised garment factories, includingHa-Meem Sweater unit, at Ashulia on Monday.
These workers, who are either paid low or irregularly, have been mounting pressure on the managements of well-running factories in the area over the last few months to halt production until their demands are met, industry insiders said.
They have been demanding regular payment and re-opening of the closed factories soon. The sick and sub-contracting factories can hardly pay their workers because of huge shortfall in orders from big factories and international buyers in the wake of global economic recession.
Apart from this, trading of garment leftovers, commonly known as jhoot, has long been a reason behind violence in the area, locals said.
A worker of Ha-Meem said he had been asked by some angry workers of other factories to join their demonstration. "But we did not join them and kept our operation running," he told The Daily Star, requesting not to be named.
A number of Ha-Meem workers said real garment workers did not burn the factory because the management pays them well and does it in time.
"So far as I know, Ha-Meem Group filed a case with Ashulia Police Station a few days ago when three trucks of jhoot were looted by a gang of miscreants." said Sanjeev Behal, a mid-level official of Ha-Meem Group, adding that this might be a reason behind the attack.
Sanjeev said, "It is true that during the incident our workers tried to protect the factory from vandalism."
He said their management exchanges views with the workers on a regular basis. Owners of the factory also spend money from jhoot sales on social activities like donating for mosque construction and wedding of poor girls working at garment factories or living in nearby areas. He said police might call the jhoot traders of the area and search for those now hiding.
GAP. H and M. Tesco, Osskos and Floreal are the major clients of Ha-Meem Sweater, Sanjeev said, adding that they have already talked to their clients about the incident "Our buyers have extended all cooperation towards us," he said.
The factory has had full orders even at this time of recession and the annual turnover of the unit is $7 million.
Sanjeev said they would pay their workers on July 9.
Meanwhile, the situation has returned to normal in the area.
Ismail Hossain, managing director of nearby Sharmin Group, said they resumed production yesterday. He said he had asked their workers to stop production when outsiders set fire on Ha-Meem Sweater factory.