Garment workers in Bangladesh held protests that led to clashes with police and the temporary closure of hundreds of factories across industrial hubs. Demonstrators are demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka ($245), more than double the current minimum of 12,500 taka ($101), citing the rising cost of living.
Unrest Halts Production Across Hundreds of Factories
The unrest, which began on Saturday, has disrupted operations in major manufacturing centers including Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur, and the Mirpur area of Dhaka. In Narayanganj, police fired tear gas and sound grenades to disperse protesters who blocked roads. The economic impact is significant; by mid-week, reports indicated that suspended production affected approximately 690 factories nationwide. In Gazipur alone, Industrial Police superintendent Amjad Hossain reported that more than 150 factories had closed due to the demonstrations.
#Bangladesh – Clashes between police and workers broke out in Dhaka on the fourth day of protests against the rising cost of living and poor working conditions. Hundreds of thousands of workers, primarily from the textile sector, have once again taken to the streets, demanding… pic.twitter.com/lh9rms35wh
Violence also spread to Savar and Hemayetpur. Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Shamima Parveen reported that the unrest resulted in at least 50 injuries, affecting police officers, workers, and people walking by. In one incident, a vehicle belonging to the officer-in-charge of Savar Model Police Station was set ablaze. Security measures were intensified, with three platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) deployed in Savar and Ashulia to maintain order alongside police and other security forces, according to Savar Upazila Executive Officer Saiful Islam.
The protests have been marked by road blockades, such as the obstruction of the Dhaka-Tangail highway and the Dhaka-Aricha highway, which caused severe traffic congestion. In some locations, such as the Al-Muslim Group factory area in Ulail, workers hurled brickbats before being dispersed by police using tear gas.
Garment Workers Reject Wage Adjustments Amid Inflation
While the government has urged workers to return to their jobs, protesters have continued to take to the streets. The government formed a new wage board on November 1 to review garment workers’ pay.
Workers argue that these adjustments have failed to keep pace with inflation, which stood at 8.34 per cent annually as of September. How are we supposed to run our families with such paltry wages when the cost of living has skyrocketed,
said Mahin Hossain, a protesting worker. Bithi Begum, another garment worker, added, Every month is a struggle.
Industry leaders have expressed concern over the viability of the current demands. Ahsan Mansur, former governor of Bangladesh Bank, remarked, From Tk 12,500 to Tk 30,000 is a ridiculous ask.
Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, noted that the ongoing labor movement is hampering production and exports, warning that European buyers may purchase less as a result of the instability.
Officials Allege External Forces Provoke Sabotage
The situation has drawn scrutiny from various political and economic stakeholders. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar alleged that the unrest might not be a entirely genuine trade union movement, suggesting that external forces or the banned Awami League might be attempting to provoke sabotage. He called for a neutral investigation into the death of worker Toufiq Sheikh, who died while undergoing treatment following clashes in Gazipur.
Dr. Selim Raihan, professor in the Department of Economics at Dhaka University and executive director at the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (Sanem), emphasized that the industry needs a more responsible approach. He noted that these two elements are vital for creating a RMG sector that is more durable, accountable, and capable of competing on the global stage.
As the government, owners, and workers’ representatives seek a resolution, the threat of indefinite closures remains. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has warned that factories may be forced to invoke the no work, no pay
provision if production cannot resume, further escalating the financial pressure on the four million workers employed in the sector.