Twenty-nine garment factories in the Ashulia industrial area were declared closed following continued demonstrations by workers demanding a 15-percent increase in annual increments.

The Ashulia industrial belt saw an increased number of garment factories shut yesterday amid a fresh wave of unrest among workers of dozens of units for several demands, including a wage hike.

Most factories in the Ashulia area resumed operations today, while 20 factories remain shut in the Ashulia Industrial area, police said.