Garment workers from several factories in Fatullah, Narayanganj, took to the streets for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, demanding higher wages.
Police intervened when workers attempted to block a road, triggering a series of chases and counter-chases. Police fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the protesters and detained five people.
The incident occurred around 10:30am near the Katherpul area of Kutubail, adjacent to the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road.
According to police and local sources, workers in areas including Shibu Market and Katherpul initially reported for their shifts. Some later left their factories to join the protests and attempted to block the road, triggering tension across the industrial area.
At one point, workers from Metro Garments in the Katherpul area attempted to occupy the road, prompting police to intervene. The confrontation escalated into chases and counter-chases before police used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowd. Several people were detained during the operation.
Local shopkeeper Jamal Mia said workers from different factories had gathered when an argument broke out between them and local BNP activists. Police later arrived to speak with the workers, but the situation escalated into a confrontation.
The protesting workers, however, said they had been demonstrating peacefully for higher wages when BNP leaders arrived and assaulted some of them, prompting police intervention.
Additional Superintendent of Police Tarek Al Mehedi said: “We maintained a vigilant stance to keep the situation under control. Five people have been detained in connection with the incident so far.”
Workers from several garment factories staged similar protests on Monday and Tuesday, blocking the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road to press their wage demands. Tuesday's demonstrations also led to clashes and running battles between workers and police. Around 10 police officers were injured, while four workers were detained.
The workers have placed a five-point list of demands, including setting the minimum monthly wage at Tk30,000, introducing a rationing system in all garment factories, ensuring the right to form trade unions, and securing justice over the deaths of workers, including Amjad Hossain Kamal.
They have also demanded an end to arbitrary dismissals and the full implementation of labour laws.