DHAKA, Oct 31: At least 42 ready made garment factories in Bangladesh suspended operations on Saturday as protests over wages, vandalism and clashes between workers and police disrupted industrial activity in Ashulia, Gazipur and Mirpur. The government, meanwhile, assured workers that a minimum wage board would be announced on Sunday.
In Ashulia, around 30 factories in the Kathgram area halted production after demonstrations escalated into violence, leaving a police officer injured. The unrest began when a section of employees at Naim Knitwear staged a work boycott at around 10 am before taking their protest to nearby streets.
The demonstrators allegedly threw bricks and stones at neighbouring factories, prompting police to intervene. A confrontation involving chasing and counter-chasing subsequently broke out, during which a police officer sustained a head injury.
Md Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police Unit-1, said authorities were working to restore normalcy with assistance from factory owners.
In Gazipur, another 12 factories between Konabari and Chandra suspended operations after workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail Highway. The protesters reiterated their demand for a minimum monthly salary of Tk30,000, equivalent to approximately USD 242.
Workers have also called for an end to blacklisting and what they described as arbitrary dismissals. Labour representatives said dissatisfaction had been building over the government’s failure to establish the promised wage board by October 31.
In Mirpur, tensions also emerged as workers continued their agitation. Mohammad Naser Rikabdar, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Mirpur division, said authorities would examine CCTV footage and initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for unlawful activities.
Although the situation had eased by 3 pm, road blockades remained in place at Mirpur-11 and Kalshi, police officials said.
Amid the growing unrest, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury held discussions with representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) at Srama Bhaban in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area.
Following the meeting, the minister said both industry associations had agreed to the formation of a minimum wage board. He added that labour leaders had also supported the proposal during discussions held on Friday.
According to Choudhury, workers’ representatives had already submitted a list of nominees for the proposed board. He urged factory owners to settle outstanding salary payments and stressed the importance of ensuring that employees receive their monthly wages within the first seven days of the following month.
The minister, however, pointed out that regular salary disbursement required factory owners and management teams to maintain proper records of sales and earnings. He cautioned that production disruptions caused by demonstrations and vandalism could adversely affect factory operations and their capacity to pay workers.
Appealing for an end to the demonstrations, Choudhury said the government had made progress on the workers’ demands and that further agitation was unnecessary. He also alleged that certain outsiders were attempting to provoke unrest by posing as labour protesters.
Calling for greater vigilance, the minister urged media organisations to examine CCTV footage and help identify individuals allegedly involved in instigating violence.
The latest shutdowns have highlighted continuing tensions over wages and employment conditions in Bangladesh’s garment industry, a major contributor to the country’s economy.