Gazipur Garment Unrest Enters a Third Day over Tk 30,000 Wage Demand: Highway Blocked at Naojor, Over 150 Factories Shut

Garment workers have blocked the Dhaka–Tangail highway at Naojor in Gazipur in protest. After two consecutive days of worker demonstrations and clashes with police, the fresh highway blockade on Tuesday (3 November) has left the entire industrial belt tense.

The protests began in various parts of Gazipur on Sunday (1 November) demanding that the workers' minimum wage be set at Tk 30,000. Garment workers also demonstrated in the capital's Mirpur today, demanding higher pay and allowances.

At one stage of the movement, which spread to Konabari, Kashimpur, Mouchak, Safipur, Chandra and the Palli Bidyut area, workers blocked the Dhaka–Tangail highway, disrupting traffic on this important road.

Protests and clashes also took place in various areas on Monday (2 November). Tuesday's fresh blockade at Naojor has raised concern over the situation.

According to the police, during the movement there were incidents of a police vehicle being set on fire, a police box being torched, vehicles being vandalised and arson at various places.

To bring the situation under control, police and BGB personnel went to the scene and fired tear gas shells and sound grenades. Chases and counter-chases also took place between the workers and law enforcement personnel.

Police have filed three cases over the movement and the violence. Around four thousand people have been accused in these cases, and at least 30 people have been arrested.

Mohammad Amzad Hossain, superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police, has confirmed the filing of the cases.

Faced with the protests, holidays have reportedly been declared at more than 150 factories in Gazipur.

So that the worker unrest does not spread afresh and normal activity continues at factories and on the roads, law enforcement agencies have strengthened security in Gazipur, Mirpur and other industrial areas. Additional security measures have been taken across the industrial belt to keep the situation under control.