Demands for a Tk30,000 monthly minimum wage triggered protests across major garment-producing areas on Saturday, disrupting operations at dozens of factories in Ashulia and Gazipur and leading to clashes between workers and police.
At least 30 factories in Ashulia and 18 to 20 in Kaliakair, Gazipur, declared holidays amid the unrest. Clashes left at least five industrial police personnel and several garment workers injured, while police recovered three crude bomb-like objects from the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Ashulia.
Superintendent of Police of Ashulia Industrial Police-1 Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan confirmed the factory closures at around 1:45pm on Saturday.
Protests spread across Ashulia industrial areas
Police sources said workers of Naim Knitwear first stopped working inside the factory in the Kathgara area in the morning. They later came out and staged protests, throwing bricks at several nearby factories.
At one stage, workers and police engaged in chases and counter-chases.
During a visit on Saturday afternoon, a tense situation was observed in Nishchintapur, Kathgara, Zirabo and Narsinghpur areas of Ashulia in Savar.
Speaking to workers, it was learnt that employees of Newage Apparels and Newage Garments in Nishchintapur began a work stoppage in the morning, demanding a minimum wage of Tk30,000, an end to blacklisting and a halt to worker layoffs.
Later, workers at Al-Muslim, Continental and AR Jeans in Kathgara, Naim Sweater and FNF Garments in Narsinghpur, and Trouser Line in Zirabo also staged protests.
At noon, garment workers gathered in Nishchintapur. When police attempted to disperse them, clashes involving chases and counter-chases broke out.
Police later fired tear gas, prompting workers to throw bricks at them. At least 5 industrial police personnel were injured, while several garment workers also sustained injuries.
Police report factory closures, personnel injured
Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan said the situation remained tense as workers took positions at different locations and could prevent employees at other factories from working.
He said: “The situation is not very good now due to the workers' protests. Workers are taking positions at different locations. They may obstruct workers at other factories from working. We are trying to explain the situation to the workers. So far, at least 30 garment factories have declared holidays. A police member was hit on the head by bricks thrown by protesters and has been admitted to hospital.”
Inspector (Investigation) of Ashulia police station Harun-or-Rashid said: “Since morning, workers have been staging protests and work stoppages in Zirabo, Nishchintapur and Kathgara. However, the situation was brought under control at noon.”
Workers cite delay in wage board formation
Khairul Mamun, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Sweaters Workers Trade Union Centre, said setting the minimum wage at Tk30,000 was a longstanding demand of workers.
He added that workers must not be blacklisted or dismissed arbitrarily.
Khairul Mamun said the labor minister had announced that a wage board would be formed within October, but the process had not started, creating resentment among workers.
He said a meeting at the Ministry of Labor on Friday night decided that the process of forming the minimum wage board would begin by next Sunday. However, the message had not properly reached the workers, prompting continued protests.
A worker at Newage Apparels, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The prices of everything have increased, but our wages have not. If our wages are not increased, how will we support our families?”
Police recover 3 crude bomb-like objects
Meanwhile, industrial police recovered 3 crude bomb-like objects from the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Ashulia at noon.
The objects were found in front of a factory belonging to Nassa Group in the Nishchintapur area.
Mohammad Mominul Islam said: “The matter has been reported to the Bangladesh Police's Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU). They will come to the scene and take further steps.”
18-20 factories shut in Gazipur
Meanwhile, at least 18-20 factories declared holidays following clashes between police and garment workers protesting for wage increases near the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Kaliakair, Gazipur.
Authorities declared holidays at all garment factories along the 13-kilometer stretch from Konabari to Chandra.
Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Amjad Hossain confirmed the information on Saturday afternoon.
