Tensions escalated in Bangladesh on Wednesday as police deployed tear gas and stun grenades to disperse garment workers demanding higher minimum wages. The unrest follows days of demonstrations that have significantly disrupted the nation's garment sector, an industry that relies on approximately 2,500 factories to generate roughly $40 billion in annual exports and employs about 4 million people, most of whom are women from rural areas.
The protests have spread beyond the capital of Dhaka into surrounding industrial zones. In Fatullah, located in the Narayanganj district, clashes between protesters and law enforcement resulted in dozens of injuries. According to local media reports, including the daily newspaper Prothom Alo, police also conducted arrests in the area. In the industrial hub of Ashulia, near Dhaka, superintendent Mominul Islam Bhuiyan confirmed that approximately 100 factories remain closed. Meanwhile, in the Gazipur district, demonstrators blocked a major highway as part of the ongoing agitation.
Authorities have taken significant measures to control the unrest, with joint police commissioner Mahidul Islam stating that more than 10,000 officers have been deployed to the Mirpur area of Dhaka, which has served as a focal point for the recent protests. The workers are calling for a minimum monthly wage increase to 30,000 takas ($245), a significant jump from the current 12,500 takas. Protesters argue that persistent inflation and the rising cost of living have severely diminished their purchasing power.
In response to the demonstrations, the government has established a new wage board to address the workers' demands. Syed Azad Subhani, the chairman of the board, announced that workers are expected to receive their first salaries under the updated pay scale starting in January.
