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One hundred and forty-five readymade garment factories, mostly at Savar and Ashulia in Dhaka, suspended production on Wednesday amid renewed workers’ protests demanding an immediate annoucement of a minimum monthly wage of Tk 32,000.
Workers clashed with police in Ashulia industrial belt after several factories stopped production and protesters blocked Jamgora-Baipail road, disrupting traffic and causing long tailbacks.
According to police and factory officials, workers from several factories stopped work and blocked the road at around 9:00am. Police from Ashulia police station, industrial police and joint forces asked them to clear the road.
The situation escalated when some workers allegedly threw bricks and stones at police. Police chased the protesters and fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse them.
Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Tarikul Islam said the situation had been brought under control and traffic movement restored.
He said additional police and 14 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh personnel had been deployed across the industrial belt to prevent further unrest.
Ashulia Industrial Police-1 Superintendent Mohammad Mominul Islam said almost all factories along Jamgora-Narsinghpur-Nischintapur belt had declared a holiday on Wednesday following the disruption.
Savar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam said workers took to the streets after some factories declared a holiday amid work abstention.
A Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association leader told New Age that 145 factories remained closed on Wednesday.
The association will monitor the situation today and hold a meeting on Saturday to decide on further action, he said.
In Gazipur, fewer factories remained closed and no clashes were reported.
The latest unrest followed violent confrontations in Ashulia industrial belt on Tuesday, leaving at least three people injured, including two garment workers and an employee of Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project.
The renewed protests have raised concern among industry stakeholders as the Minimum Wage Board is already working on a revised wage structure.
Workers’ representatives have proposed a minimum monthly wage of Tk 32,000, up from their earlier demand of Tk 30,000.
Employers are expected to submit their proposal at the board’s next meeting on November 16, with the board expected to finalise the new wage structure by December.
On Tuesday, BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan told New Age that the continued protests raised questions about whether other elements were involved. He said the industry had repeatedly urged the government to restore discipline in industrial areas.
Babul Akhter, workers’ representative on the wage board and general secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, also questioned the renewed protests.
He said the board had held two meetings within nine days of its formation and the workers’ side had already submitted its proposed wage structure.
‘There should be no protests at this stage, as the wage revision process is proceeding institutionally,’ he said.
He said the unions were unclear about the reasons behind the renewed protests and that local politics, other parties or vested interests might be involved.
He urged the government to investigate the matter and take action.
Source: New Age
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