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BGB members, journalists among 30 injured in garment workers' clashes

Published : Monday, 2 November, 2026 at 6:09 PM

Staff Correspondent

Garment workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Kaliakair, Gazipur, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, triggering clashes, chases and counter-chases, and vandalism on Monday (November 2). At least 30 people, including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members, journalists and BNP leaders and activists, were injured as law enforcers used batons and tear gas to disperse the protesters.

The incident began in the morning and escalated into violence as protesters took positions on the highway. During the unrest, miscreants also vandalised a camera belonging to Somoy Television. Traffic on the highway returned to normal around noon after the situation came under control.

According to local residents, workers, police and passengers, labour unrest had been continuing in the area for several days. On Sunday, the government formed a wage board to determine the minimum wage for garment workers. However, workers refused to return to their workplaces and launched fresh demonstrations on Monday morning.

Around 8AM, workers carrying sticks took positions on the Dhaka-Tangail highway at Mouchak, Safipur, the No. 3 gate of the Ansar Academy, Harinhati and Pollibidyut areas of Kaliakair upazila. Their blockade brought traffic to a complete halt on both sides of the highway, causing long tailbacks.

Around 9:30AM, protesters dropped an electricity pole onto the highway near the No. 3 gate of the Ansar Academy in Safipur, further disrupting traffic. After receiving the information, members of BGB, Kaliakair Police Station and industrial police, with assistance from local residents, removed the pole.

Later, around 11AM, several vehicles were vandalised in the Pollibidyut area. When members of BGB, regular police and industrial police moved in to bring the situation under control, clashes and chases and counter-chases broke out between law enforcers and agitated workers.

At one stage, law enforcers used batons and fired tear gas shells to disperse the workers from the highway. Some workers allegedly threw bricks and stones targeting law enforcement personnel.

Several people, including BGB member Kabir, were injured after being hit by bricks and stones during the clashes. Four journalists were also injured while covering the incident. They were Somoy Television reporter Mehedi Hasan and his cameraperson, SA TV cameraperson Reza Islam, and Ekhon Television reporter Iftekhar. Miscreants also vandalised a camera belonging to Somoy Television. The injured journalists and others were taken to different local clinics for treatment.

Meanwhile, leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations also took positions at different points along the highway amid the unrest, seeking to restore order. Carrying sticks, they gathered at key locations, chanting the slogan, "If industries survive, the country will survive; Bangladesh comes first."

Attempts by BNP activists to remove workers from the highway in the Safipur and Pollibidyut areas led to further clashes and chases and counter-chases between the two groups. Several BNP activists and workers were injured and received primary treatment at local clinics.

Parvez Ahmed, former general secretary of Kaliakair upazila BNP, said the government had already formed a wage board and that the minimum wage for workers would be determined soon. He said workers should not take to the streets under the circumstances.

He also alleged that several former Awami League activists, including Khattab Molla of the Pollibidyut area and Chhoto Shahid of Chandra, were trying to create instability by exploiting the workers' movement. He accused them of using workers' names to organise road blockades and hurl bricks and stones. Parvez also claimed that several BNP activists had been injured in the incidents.

On the other hand, Kaliakair Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahidul Islam said workers had blocked the highway in the morning. He said the formation of the wage board by the government was expected to create positive expectations among workers.

The OC further alleged that a third party or group had been attempting to create disorder on the roads for several days to undermine stability in the country by exploiting the labour unrest. In this connection, police conducted raids in different areas on Sunday night and arrested nine members of the Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League, he said, adding that such operations would continue.

Gazipur District Administration Executive Magistrate Arif Hossain said 10 platoons of BGB had been deployed across the district to address the ongoing labour unrest and maintain law and order. BGB members were performing duties in different areas under the leadership of 21 executive magistrates, he added.

The protesting workers said the formation of a wage board alone would not resolve their problems. They insisted that their minimum monthly wage must be fixed at Tk 30,000 and announced that they would continue their movement until the demand was met.

The situation came under control around noon following the efforts of BGB, police and local BNP activists. Traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail highway gradually returned to normal afterwards.

- MaT