Dhaka, Two garment workers were injured in clashes with police in Bangladesh on Tuesday as protests demanding higher minimum wages resumed after a break of several days, prompting authorities to deploy additional security forces.
The authorities have announced an indefinite closure of all factories operated by New Age Group in Ashulia from Tuesday, citing the ongoing labour unrest. The protests resumed after a few days of suspension, including during government holidays, with workers at various factories in several industrial areas across the country stopping work to press their demands despite reporting for duty in the morning. Police subsequently fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the demonstrators. The unrest comes amid continued garment workers’ protests over demands for higher minimum wages, which have disrupted factory operations in Bangladesh’s key export industry. A wage board has agreed to introduce a revised pay structure from December, with the first salaries under the new scale expected in January, but the size of the increase has yet to be determined. The BGB headquarters is monitoring the security situation through live footage captured by drones, body-worn cameras and other devices, in coordination with local administration and police. Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest garment exporter after China, supplying major international brands such as H&M, Zara and Gap. Manufacturers have warned that prolonged disruption during the peak production season for spring and summer orders could delay shipments, threaten overseas buyers’ confidence and lead to cancellations. Bangladesh’s garment sector has been under pressure from rising production costs, inflation and intense competition in global markets. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The clashes broke out when workers blocked the Baipail-Abdullahpur Road in Ashulia industrial area, about 17 km from Dhaka, The Daily Star newspaper reported. However, Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, said the worker receiving treatment at DMCH was injured by a brickbat and is doing well, The Daily Star reported. Garment factory workers have been demanding an increase in the monthly minimum wage from 12,500 taka to 30,000 taka , citing rising prices of food, housing, transport and healthcare that have eroded their purchasing power. Meanwhile, Border Guard Bangladesh has deployed 36 platoons of personnel in key industrial areas of Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj to maintain law and order and prevent further unrest, the state-run BSS news agency reported. 14 platoons have been stationed in Savar and Ashulia, three in Mirpur, nine in Narayanganj and 10 in different industrial areas of Gazipur, according to a BGB statement. The protests come at a critical time for Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry, which employs about four million workers and accounts for more than 80 per cent of the country’s export earnings. Workers, meanwhile, say their wages have failed to keep pace with the cost of living, with inflation hovering around 8 per cent.
Police initially tried to persuade them to clear the road, but the protesters allegedly hurled bricks and stones at personnel, triggering clashes and chases between the two sides, it said. Two special patrols are also being conducted in Narayanganj and adjoining areas, it said.
Two workers were injured in the clashes. They were rushed to Ashulia Women and Children Hospital. another received primary treatment and returned home While one worker suffered a head injury and was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital .
Operations manager of the hospital, the two workers were brought for treatment with injuries reportedly caused by rubber bullets, according to Harun-or-Rashid.
