The administration has strengthened security in Gazipur amid ongoing garment workers’ protests over wage increases and other demands, deploying an additional platoon of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel and increasing the number of executive magistrates.
The district now has 11 BGB platoons on duty, up from 10, while the number of executive magistrates has risen from 21 to 25.
Arif Hossain, assistant commissioner (media) at the Gazipur deputy commissioner’s office, confirmed the development on Tuesday morning.
He said BGB personnel were operating under the supervision of 25 executive magistrates, while other law enforcement agencies remained on high alert.
The additional deployment aims to prevent damage to public property and protect the lives and belongings of residents, he added.
Meanwhile, workers attempted to block the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur’s Mouchak area around 8:30am on Tuesday, but law enforcement personnel prevented them from occupying the road. Groups of workers were also seen heading to factories to join their shifts.
Mohammad Amjad Hossain, superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police, said workers had attempted to block the highway shortly before 8am. Law enforcement personnel dispersed them, and traffic subsequently returned to normal.
For the past few days, garment workers in different parts of Gazipur have been staging protests over wage increases and other demands, blocking the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways.
The unrest has involved incidents of arson, including fires at a police box, a police vehicle and a factory scrap warehouse. Clashes between workers and law enforcement personnel have also left people injured on both sides, while several individuals have been detained.
Several factories have suspended operations amid the protests.
