Garment workers resumed protests in Gazipur on Sunday, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000, blocking the Dhaka-Tangail highway and setting fire to a police box and vehicles.
Five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed to help maintain law and order in the industrial areas.
Workers began gathering on the highway around 9:30am and blocked traffic shortly afterwards. Incidents of vandalism and arson were reported in several areas, including Kaliakair, Konabari and Chandra.
A police box beneath the Konabari flyover and a pickup van in front of the Ansar Academy were set on fire. Vandalism was also reported at Jamuna Bank and the gates of several factories in the Palli Bidyut area of Kaliakair, as well as at a police box in the Mouchak cutting area.
The protests initially began in Mouchak, Safipur and Chandra Palli Bidyut before spreading to Ratanpur, Konabari, Kashimpur and other nearby industrial areas. Around 30 factories in the affected areas reportedly declared holidays amid the unrest.
As thousands of workers took to the highway, traffic came to a standstill, leaving long-distance bus passengers and other commuters stranded.
Workers carrying sticks gathered at several points, including Safipur Bazar, Chandra Palli Bidyut, Mouchak and Telichala, chanting slogans over their wage demands. Clashes between police and workers were reported at different locations throughout the morning, disrupting activity in Konabari, Safipur, Mouchak and Palli Bidyut.
Workers from Korni Knit Composite, Knit Asia and several nearby factories in Ratanpur, Kaliakair, did not join work and instead gathered on the highway near Safipur Bazar. Some workers reportedly entered their factories in the morning to mark attendance before leaving to join the demonstrations.
Several factories in the surrounding areas announced closures as the protests continued.
Police box set on fire in Konabari
Gazipur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Ashraful said workers clashed with police in Konabari before setting fire to a traffic police box.
He said the protesters first smashed the windows of the box before setting it on fire. Police personnel used the facility as a resting place while on duty.
There were no valuable items inside, he said, adding that a table and chairs were damaged in the fire.
Pickup van, garment factory warehouse set ablaze
A pickup van and a warehouse storing garment waste were also set on fire in the Chandra Palli Bidyut area of Kaliakair between 11:30am and 12:30pm.
A pickup van was set ablaze around 11:30am. Firefighters could not reach the scene because of the ongoing protests, and the vehicle was gutted.
Shortly afterwards, a warehouse belonging to Tropical Garments was set on fire in the same area.
Kaliakair Fire Service Station Officer Tarikul Islam said they received information about the fire at the factory warehouse but could not reach the site as protesters obstructed their access.
Five BGB platoons deployed
Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Amzad Hossain said five platoons of BGB personnel had been deployed initially to support industrial police and maintain law and order.
The troops have been stationed in Chandra, Palli Bidyut, Safipur, Konabari, Mouchak, Naojor and Bhogra bypass areas. The number of platoons could be increased if necessary, he added.
Deputy Commissioner Nurul Karim Bhuiyan said the five BGB platoons would remain deployed for a week. He said authorities had taken necessary measures to restore normalcy despite the highway blockade and sent law enforcement personnel to the affected areas.
Police, workers and local residents said wage-related unrest had been continuing for around two weeks in several industrial areas, including Konabari, Mouchak and Safipur.
Although the government has decided to form a new wage board to revise workers' wages, the protests have continued.
Workers say rising commodity prices have made it increasingly difficult to support their families on their current wages. They are demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000.
Protests resume after Saturday's clashes
On Saturday, workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway from noon until night near Chandra Palli Bidyut and Gate No-3 of the Ansar Academy in Kaliakair.
Clashes broke out between workers and police, prompting police to fire tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the protesters.
According to industrial police, at least 18 to 20 factories declared holidays because of Saturday's blockade.
Workers eventually cleared the road at night, but resumed their blockade on Sunday morning.