A large number of garment workers returned to work a day after the announcement that a new wage structure would take effect from December.
After days of protests, Mirpur in Dhaka was completely calm, while no disorder was reported in Gazipur. Protests in Ashulia were less intense than those seen over the previous five days. The situation in Savar was also calm, with no protests reported in Narayanganj.
Garment workers had taken to the streets in mid-October demanding a minimum wage of Tk30,000. Since the beginning of this week, however, clashes between police and protesters were almost a daily occurrence. As a consequence, each day has also seen hundreds of factories suspend production.
At the first meeting of the Minimum Wage Board on Wednesday, it was announced that the new wages would take effect from December, with the increased amount to be paid along with January’s salaries.
Speaking on the matter, Pallabi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jalal Uddin said, “Workers did not take to the streets yesterday. However, we remain on alert. Additional police have been deployed and patrols are continuing.”
In the morning, workers reported for duty peacefully at factories in Shafipur and Chandra in Kaliakair, Palli Bidyut, and areas of Gazipur city, including Bhogra Bypass, Konabari, Kashimpur and Salna.
Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Amzad Hossain said that although no untoward incidents had occurred, police and other forces were continuing their patrols.
Twelve platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), five platoons of Ansar and eight platoons of SRB personnel remained deployed in the district, alongside 25 executive magistrates.
The situation in Savar was also largely calm. Workers at around 30 factories in Hemayetpur, Fulbaria and Ulail left their workplaces and gathered on the Dhaka-Aricha highway and adjoining roads, but returned home shortly afterwards.
BGB and police patrols continued in the area. BNP leaders and activists also held roadside meetings and organised a motorcycle procession.
However, in Ashulia, there were protest staged against the death of a worker in Gazipur. According to reports, a group of workers reported to their factories in the morning, marked their attendance and then walked out. They also tried to prevent employees at other factories to return to work. As a result, at least 70 garment factories declared a general holiday.
The workers later took up positions on the Abdullahpur-Baipail road. Police removed them from several points to bring the situation under control. The workers then gathered briefly on adjoining roads.
Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists held a roadside meeting in front of Joy Restaurant in Nabinagar, Ashulia, at noon. They later brought out a motorcycle procession, which passed through several points along the Dhaka-Aricha highway before returning to the same location.
Those present included Dhaka-19 MP Dewan Mohammad Salahuddin Babu, reserved-seat MP Nipun Roy Chowdhury, former joint general secretary of Dhaka District BNP Lion Mohammad Khorshed Alam, Dhaka District Swechchhasebak Dal Convener Nazmul Hasan Abhi, Pathalia Union BNP President Abdus Sobhan and General Secretary Aminul Islam.
Industrial Police Superintendent Muminul Islam Bhuiyan said, “Although the Wage Board Commission has announced that wages will be increased next December, it has not specified by how much,” adding that the uncertainty was the reason behind the continuation of garment worker protests.
