The government has stepped up efforts to control the situation in industrial areas following protests, road blockades and clashes between readymade garment workers and police over their demand for a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000.
Alongside forming a new wage board to determine the minimum wage for garment workers, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a meeting with relevant ministers and advisers to review the overall situation. Law enforcement agencies have also arrested several people over allegations of vandalism, arson and involvement in sabotage.
The meeting, chaired by Tarique Rahman, was held at the Cabinet Division conference room at the secretariat on Sunday evening.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, PM’s adviser and also PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin and Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal chief coordinator and transport leader Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas attended the meeting.
Earlier in the morning, Labour Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury announced the formation of a new six-member wage board to determine the minimum wage for garment workers. He said forming the wage board had been a key demand of the workers and urged those protesting to leave the streets and return to their workplaces following the government's decision.
The government has formed a new wage board to determine the minimum wage for garment workers, incorporating representatives from both employers and workers, along with an independent member.
Senior District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Ashfakur Rahman has been appointed chairman of the board.
The labour minister said the government expected the board members to hold discussions promptly and take steps to determine a wage structure that would be acceptable to workers.
However, the date of the board's first meeting and the deadline for announcing the new wage structure have yet to be determined.
Clashes in Mirpur, Gazipur and Ashulia
Despite the government's announcement of the new wage board, protests and road blockades continued on Sunday in Mirpur in the capital, Kaliakair in Gazipur, and the Savar-Ashulia industrial belt. Clashes with police, vandalism and arson were reported at several locations.
Garment workers began protesting from the Mirpur-10 roundabout in the morning, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000. The demonstrations later spread to Mirpur-11, Mirpur-12 and surrounding areas.
Clashes between workers and police broke out at around 11:30am and continued until the afternoon.
Vehicular movement came to a halt on several roads in Mirpur. As tensions escalated, the Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11 and Pallabi metro rail stations were temporarily closed. At one point, a police vehicle beneath the Mirpur-11 metro station was set on fire.
In Gazipur's Kaliakair Upazila, workers staged demonstrations in Chandra, Palli Bidyut, Safipur, Mouchak and Konabari.
The blockade of the Dhaka-Tangail Highway disrupted traffic for nearly six hours. A garment factory warehouse and a vehicle belonging to law enforcement agencies were reportedly set on fire during the unrest.
Police fired tear gas and sound grenades to bring the situation under control. Traffic gradually began to return to normal after workers left the roads.
Protests in various parts of Savar and Ashulia also disrupted traffic on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway, particularly around Hemayetpur and several other locations.
According to industrial police, 177 factories in the Savar-Ashulia industrial belt and more than 100 factories in Gazipur declared a holiday for Sunday amid the unrest. Production was suspended at more than 300 factories in total.
Arrests during security operations
Police have arrested several people in Mirpur and Gazipur over allegations of vandalism, arson and sabotage during the workers' protests.
The Mirpur division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said 29 people had been arrested in connection with Sunday's demonstrations in the area. Industrial police, meanwhile, reported the arrest of 20 people in the Gazipur industrial zone.
Police also said they had arrested nine activists and leaders of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations during operations in different parts of Kaliakair Upazila in Gazipur.
According to police, those arrested include individuals affiliated with the Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League, Krishak League and Sramik League at various levels.
Kaliakair Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahidul Islam said the arrests were made following allegations that the individuals were involved in various criminal activities.
Police have also alleged political involvement in the labour unrest. However, the specific allegations against those arrested, details of the cases filed and whether the charges can be established in court will be determined through the judicial process.
Allegations of political involvement
Labour Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury has alleged that some political organisations are deliberately attempting to create instability in the garment industry.
He claimed that outsiders had thrown stones at several factories and attempted to mobilise workers to take to the streets.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Rashed Khan, a political assistant to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, alleged in a social media post that a Chhatra League leader had been leading a workers' protest in Gazipur. He also questioned the role of various political groups in the unrest.
Workers urged to return to work
Following the formation of the wage board, the labour minister urged protesting workers to return to their workplaces. The government has assured them that the process of determining the minimum wage will move forward through discussions.
It remains unclear what recommendations the new board will make.