Police and BGB disperse protesting workers with sound grenades

The situation in the industrial zone of Gazipur has once again become volatile as workers demand an increase in their minimum wages and salaries. 

On Sunday afternoon, workers from several factories in the Konabari and Kaliakair areas of Gazipur city attempted to stage a protest, taking to the streets armed with sticks; however, they were intercepted by law enforcement agencies. Police deployed sound grenades and tear gas to bring the situation under control.

According to eyewitnesses and police sources, a group of garment factory workers gathered in the Jarun area of Konabari on Sunday afternoon to protest for higher wages. Meanwhile, around 11:00 AM in the Kaliakair and Bhannara-Mouchak areas, workers from Apex Footwear Limited and Zenith Footwear Limited stopped work and began a protest, presenting a 14-point list of demands.

At one point, panic spread through the area as over 50 workers, carrying sticks, began moving from Kashimpur toward Konabari. Upon receiving the information, a joint team of police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel arrived at the scene. Although authorities requested that the workers clear the road, the workers refused and attempted to continue their protest. Law enforcement soon dispersed the demonstrators by using sound grenades and tear gas shells.

In light of the unrest, the management of Apex Footwear declared an immediate holiday for the factory. Following this announcement, the workers left the factory premises.

Amjad Hossain, Superintendent of the Gazipur Industrial Police, informed the media that workers from both garment factories and leather/footwear manufacturing units had attempted to protest, seeking higher wages. He noted that the situation was brought under control quickly due to police intervention. He further explained that the wage structures in the garment sector differ from those in the footwear manufacturing sector. The situation in the industrial area has since returned to normal, and additional police forces have been deployed to maintain law and order. 

It should be noted that since November 1, various areas in Gazipur have witnessed intermittent protests, road blockades, and clashes between police and workers, all driven by demands for a minimum wage of Tk. 30,000. On November 2, a police vehicle was set on fire by agitated workers in the Naojor area. Due to this ongoing unrest, approximately 150 factories in Gazipur had previously been forced to declare temporary closures. The recent involvement of workers from footwear factories, coupled with fresh attempts at protests in Konabari today, has heightened concerns within the industrial zone.

As of this afternoon, traffic flow has returned to normal on key roads in Gazipur, including the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways. Nevertheless, to ensure overall security in the industrial zone and prevent any acts of sabotage, a stringent security cordon, comprising police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Ansar personnel, has been established around critical junctions along the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and in the vicinity of the factories.

-    RKM/NS