Dhaka, June 8 -- Thousands, mostly garment workers, have lost their jobs amid a fall in production and work orders due to sluggish global demand and a loss of competitiveness.

A total of 79 factories terminated as many as 7,784 workers in the last five months until May 31, according to data prepared by law enforcement agencies.

According to data, workers were laid off across six industrial zones, except Dhaka metropolitan area, under the jurisdiction of the Industrial Police.

The highest number of job losses was recorded in Ashulia, where 35 factories dismissed around 5,000 workers between January and May this year, followed by Gazipur, where 33 factories fired 1,946 workers.

More than 500 workers were sacked in the Chattogram industr...