Garment workers staged demonstrations and blocked roads in the industrial areas of Savar and Ashulia on Wednesday, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.
Amid worker unrest, clashes and incidents of vandalism, authorities declared general holidays in around 50 garment factories across the two areas, according to Muminul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1.
He said a large number of police personnel were deployed promptly, preventing protesters from occupying roads for an extended period.
On Wednesday morning, workers initially joined their respective factories as usual. However, employees at several factories, including Sharmin Group, Next Collection and Yagi Bangladesh Limited, stopped work and gathered outside their workplaces, triggering tension.
Factory authorities subsequently declared general holidays at those establishments.
The protesting workers later assembled near Zirabo bus stand before moving towards the Beron Sixtola area, where they attempted to block the Baipail-Abdullahpur road.
A large contingent of police arrived within minutes and tried to persuade the demonstrators to leave the road. However, agitated workers attacked an armoured personnel carrier (APC) belonging to Industrial Police-1.
Police then fired tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the protesters.
As the workers retreated into nearby alleys, they threw brickbats at police personnel. Officers entered the lanes, fired sound grenades and searched for the demonstrators. Several people were briefly detained before being released shortly afterwards.
Following demonstrations and incidents of vandalism, including damage to factory doors and windows caused by stone-throwing, authorities declared general holidays at nearly 40 factories in Jamgora, Norshinghapur, Beron, Zirabo and Kuturia.
A separate incident took place around 11am at Poddar Mor in Hemayetpur, Savar.
Although workers initially joined their shifts as usual, employees of Jeans Manufacturing Limited stopped work inside the factory over the demand for a Tk 30,000 minimum wage.
The protesters later came out of the factory and threw brickbats at a neighbouring garment factory, Rupkotha, before vandalising the premises with sticks.
When the demonstrators attempted to block the Hemayetpur-Singair road at Poddar Mor, police fired tear gas shells to disperse them.
The workers retaliated by throwing brickbats at police personnel, leaving several people injured.
Police said general holidays were declared at 10 factories in the Savar police station area on Wednesday following the clashes.
A tense situation continues to prevail across the garment industrial zones, with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police personnel remaining on alert. Additional police have also been deployed in front of factories to prevent further unrest.
Saiful Alam, officer-in-charge of Savar Model Police Station, said additional police personnel had been deployed in garment-intensive areas and the overall situation remained under control.
