Protests by garment workers in Kaliakair, Gazipur, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000 have turned violent, with incidents of vandalism and arson reported at several locations since demonstrations began on Sunday morning.
The Dhaka-Tangail Highway blockade was still continuing as of 1pm.
A police box was vandalised in the Mouchak area, while another police box in Konabari was set on fire. In a separate incident, a police vehicle was torched in front of the Ansar Academy.
Jamuna Bank in the Palli Bidyut area of Kaliakair was vandalised. The gates of several garment factories were also damaged.
The incidents have triggered tension and panic across the industrial zone. Long queues of vehicles formed on both sides of the highway, leaving long-distance travellers and other commuters facing severe difficulties.
On Saturday, workers staged demonstrations in Chandra, Palli Bidyut, Safipur and Mouchak. During the protests, clashes broke out between workers and police. Police fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to bring the situation under control. Injuries were also reported in the clashes.
The protesters are demanding that their minimum monthly wage be set at Tk30,000 in line with rising prices of essential commodities and the increasing cost of living.
Meanwhile, police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed across the industrial zone to address the labour unrest and maintain security.
