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Over 50 garment factories in Ashulia suspend operations on Sunday as workers stage protests for a second consecutive day, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, an end to blacklisting and the fulfillment of other demands | Source: New Age photo
At least 529 ready-made garment (RMG) factories suspended production in Dhaka, Gazipur, Mymensingh, Savar and Ashulia on Sunday amid violent protests by workers demanding a Tk 30,000 minimum monthly wage.
Ten platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) led by 21 executive magistrates were deployed across Gazipur on Monday morning to maintain order. Previously, five platoons were deployed on Sunday.
A six-member minimum wage board was formed on Sunday. Despite that, workers also demanded an end to blacklisting and reinstatement of dismissed staff. In response, 276 factories in Gazipur and Mymensingh, 185 in Savar, Ashulia and Zirabo, and 68 in Dhaka were closed.
In Dhaka's Mirpur, protesters blocked roads, torched a police vehicle at Mirpur-11 and pelted a fire truck with bricks, injuring its driver and suspending Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11 and Pallabi metro stations for two hours as police used tear gas and water cannons.
Gazipur protesters blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway for six hours, torching a jute warehouse, a Konabari police box and a police vehicle while vandalising a Jamuna Bank branch.
Masked protesters blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar, torching an AKH Group security post and injuring two policemen.
Police detained 49 people in Dhaka and Gazipur on Sunday over alleged sabotage. Detective Branch Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rakib Khan said former MP Elias Mollah's nephew Alif Mollah organised over 100 people, including 11 non-worker Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League activists detained in Mirpur.
Police arrested 30 people for terrorist activities in Gazipur. Nine of them are banned Awami League and associate body leaders in Kaliakair. Industrial Police Chief Gazi Jasim Uddin suspected third-party instigation despite police restraint.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan warned of factory closures if violence persisted, and worker leaders blamed outsiders. Besides, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Shafiqur Rahman urged immediate steps to protect owners, workers and the fragile economy.
Sources: The Daily Star, New Age, Prothom Alo
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday called for measures to protect readymade garment (RMG) workers' interests, improve their living standards and enhance their financial capacity while ensuring uninterrupted production and exports.
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The government has directed all government, semi-government, autonomous, and private institutions to hoist the national flag on 7 November to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day.
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