Protests and road blockades continued on Sunday in Mirpur in the capital, Kaliakair in Gazipur and the Savar-Ashulia industrial belt, with clashes between workers and police, vandalism and arson reported at several locations.
Garment workers began protesting at 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 around 11:30am and continued into 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. A police vehicle parked beneath the Mirpur-11 metro station was also set on fire during the unrest.
In Gazipur's Kaliakair upazila, workers staged demonstrations in Chandra, Palli Bidyut, Safipur, Mouchak and Konabari.
A blockade of the Dhaka-Tangail Highway disrupted traffic for nearly six hours. A garment factory warehouse and a vehicle belonging to a law enforcement agency were also reportedly set on fire.
Police fired tear gas and sound grenades to bring the situation under control. Traffic gradually returned to normal after workers left the roads.
Protests in different 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 in Gazipur declared holidays on 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 on 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 the demonstrations in the area. Industrial police, meanwhile, reported the arrest of 20 people in the Gazipur industrial zone.
Police also said nine activists and leaders of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations had been arrested during operations in different parts of Kaliakair upazila.
According to police, those arrested include members of 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, the details of the cases filed and the evidence supporting the charges will be subject to 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 pelted several factories with stones and tried 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, assuring them that the process of determining the minimum wage would proceed through discussions.
It remains unclear what recommendations the newly formed board will make.
