Security tightened as garment workers stage sporadic protests

Tension continued in Gazipur’s industrial areas on Tuesday as garment workers staged sporadic protests and blocked roads over their demand for a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000. Law enforcement agencies remained on alert to prevent violence, while BNP and its associate organisations deployed activists at several points along highways.

Around 9:00 AM, a group of workers set tyres on fire and staged a demonstration on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in the Naojor area, disrupting traffic. Police rushed to the spot and dispersed the protesters by firing tear gas and sound grenades.

Sporadic protests were also reported in Chandra Palli Bidyut, Mouchak, Konabari, Bhogra and Safipur.

At one point, BNP activists gathered in the Konabari BSCIC area and patrolled the highway. Some workers carrying sticks also joined them. Although activists were present near the highway and beneath the flyover, they did not obstruct traffic. Vehicle movement on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway remained normal.

As of 2:30 PM, no fresh incidents of violence or unrest had been reported.

Industrial police sources said most garment factories reopened on Tuesday morning and workers joined their shifts. However, authorities at around 20 to 25 factories in different areas declared holidays over labour unrest and security concerns. Most workers at those factories returned home safely.

Protesting workers said they wanted the minimum wage to be raised to Tk 30,000 but did not support vandalism or violence. They said they wanted a peaceful solution through dialogue.

Gazipur City Corporation Administrator and Gazipur Metropolitan BNP President Md Shawkat Hossain Sarkar said BNP and its associate organisations had stationed activists at different points along the highways to prevent what he described as disruptive activities by people posing as workers.

He alleged that the banned Awami League might be linked to the violent activities and said such attempts would be countered politically.

Additional police, members of the Special Reserve Battalion (SRB) and other law enforcement personnel were deployed at key locations across Gazipur. Ten platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and 25 executive magistrates from the district administration were also deployed.

Superintendent of Police of Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Md Amjad Hossain said workers from several factories had attempted to block the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways in Naojor, Bhogra, Konabari, Mouchak, Safipur and Palli Bidyut. Police quickly intervened and removed them from the roads.

He said around 20 to 25 factories had declared holidays to avoid untoward incidents.

Gazipur Superintendent of Police Md Jasim Uddin said at least 4,000 people had been named in cases filed over violence, vandalism and arson during the labour protests in recent days. Thirty people had been arrested in connection with the incidents.

He added that public notices had been issued asking house and flat owners not to shelter outsiders. Law enforcement agencies were continuing surveillance at key points in the industrial areas in view of the overall situation.

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