200 factories shut as garment workers continue demonstrations

Garment workers continued their demonstrations in Gazipur, Dhaka’s Savar and Narayanganj on Monday, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000 despite the formation of a six-member wage board to review their wages.

The protests disrupted traffic and industrial operations, with more than 200 garment factories in Gazipur and Savar declaring general holidays amid the unrest.

Two vehicles – a police van and a covered van – were set on fire in Gazipur and Savar around noon. A Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) member and an Industrial Police officer were also injured in separate incidents during the demonstrations.

In Gazipur, workers from different factories took to the streets in the morning, staging demonstrations in Konabari, Mouchak, Palli Bidyut, Chandra, Bhogra, Naojor, Signboard, Naljani and Lakshmipura.

Workers from several factories in the Palli Bidyut and Mouchak areas blocked the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, halting vehicular movement.

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Md Nurul Karim Bhuiyan said protesters had been dispersed after several rounds of confrontation with law enforcement agencies.

Vehicular movement came to normal around 10am, he said.

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Meanwhile, workers in other areas continued their demonstrations, blocking the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways.

Around noon, protesters set fire to a police vehicle on the Naojor Flyover.

A BGB member was also injured after being hit by bricks thrown by protesters.

Hiron Mia, an official of the Chowrasta Modern Fire Service Station, said the fire service had been informed of the incident, but its personnel could not immediately reach the spot due to obstruction by protesters.

The vehicle was later removed using a police recovery truck.

Incidents of vandalism were also reported in different parts of the industrial city, according to local sources.

The DC said 10 platoons of BGB personnel had been deployed in Gazipur's industrial areas alongside police and members of other law enforcement agencies.

The BGB members were working under the supervision of 21 executive magistrates to maintain law and order, he added.

More than 100 factories on both sides of the highway, stretching from Chandra in Kaliakair through Konabari and Naojor to Joydebpur, declared holidays due to the unrest.

In Savar, workers from different garment factories staged demonstrations on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in the Narsinghapur area around 9:30am.

Police fired tear gas shells in front of Ha-Meem Group factory to disperse the protesting workers, triggering clashes when chases and counter-chases took place.

Workers also hurled brick chips at law enforcers.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Shoaeb Ahmed of Industrial Police-1 was injured after being hit by bricks thrown by the protesters.

Around 11:15am, miscreants set fire to a covered van belonging to Ha-Meem Group while it was refuelling at Nadi Filling Station.

Several garment factories in the Hemayetpur, Tetuljhora, Fulbaria and Ullail areas of Savar municipality also declared holidays amid the unrest.

Some protesters visited nearby factories and forced workers to leave their workplaces, disrupting production.

Authorities of 100 factories declared a general holiday for Monday amid the unrest.

Additional police and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) members had been deployed to maintain law and order, said Superintendent of Industrial Police Mominul Islam Bhuiyan.

In Narayanganj, workers from several garment factories blocked the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000.

Witnesses said workers gathered at the Kutubail Katherpool area in Narayanganj Sadar upazila around 11:30am before moving onto the link road and blocking it around noon, disrupting vehicular movement.

A leader of a workers' organisation, requesting anonymity, said the workers had joined the demonstration spontaneously to press home their wage demand.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operation) Tarek Al Mehedi said police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. 

The government on Sunday formed a six-member minimum wage board for the garment workers amid widespread protests.