Bangladesh garment workers’ protests enter third day, disrupting factories: How is the government responding?

Bangladesh’s industrial belt has once again been rocked by protests as garment workers demand a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000. On November 2, workers took to the streets in several parts of Gazipur, forcing more than 150 garment factories to declare holidays amid the unrest. Clashes between workers and the police, along with members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), were reported in several areas. Police and BGB personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control.

According to a report by Prothom Alo, protests began on Monday morning along the Dhaka–Tangail highway in Gazipur, as well as in the Pallibidyut area of Safipur and in Chandra. Workers blocked roads at several locations, bringing traffic to a standstill. When security personnel moved to disperse the protesters, clashes and chases broke out between the two sides.

During the unrest, three police vehicles were vandalised and several vehicles were set on fire. A BGB member was injured after being hit by a brick. Several journalists were also reportedly injured in the clashes.

A reporter and a camera operator from Somoy TV were attacked while covering the protests in Gazipur’s Naojor area. Their camera was also vandalised. Earlier, there had been allegations of attacks on other journalists and the snatching of their mobile phones.

Amzad Hossain, superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police, confirmed that more than 150 factories had declared holidays because of the labour unrest.

Against this backdrop, Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has spoken out about the ongoing protests. On Monday morning, he held a meeting with representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the minister alleged that some factory owners, former lawmakers and a former state minister were behind the workers’ movement. He accused several garment industry owners linked to the politics of the Awami League of deliberately attempting to create unrest. He also claimed that some factories had been shut down as part of a planned effort to fuel instability. The government, he said, had sought a list of the owners responsible.

The authorities have also requested a list of labour leaders and organisations allegedly involved in creating disorder in the name of the movement.

Salahuddin said a round-the-clock monitoring system had been put in place to keep track of the situation in the garment industry. A control room at police headquarters will monitor developments through a security application. He warned that legal action would be taken against those attempting to incite violence and unrest under the cover of the labour movement.

However, the workers’ central demand remains a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000. The home minister said the government had already formed a wage board to consider the demand. According to him, the board was constituted in accordance with the rules, with representatives nominated by both factory owners and workers. He added that the board would meet soon to discuss the matter and announce a revised minimum wage following deliberations.

The minister also said he was scheduled to meet representatives of labour organisations at around 3 pm on Monday. He assured them that the government would consider their views and proposals before deciding on its next steps.

With workers continuing to demand higher wages and the government alleging a political conspiracy behind the unrest, the situation in Bangladesh’s garment industry remains tense. The coming days will show whether the wage board can address the workers’ demands and whether the authorities can restore calm across the industrial belt.