Garment workers block highways in Gazipur and Savar, clash with police

Photo: collected

Garment workers took to the streets in Gazipur and Savar on Wednesday, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, triggering clashes with police and blockades on major highways.

Workers blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Gazipur and the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Savar, disrupting traffic and causing long tailbacks. Police fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse protesters in Gazipur, while baton charges and tear gas were reported in Savar.

At around 9:30am, thousands of workers gathered on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in the Signboard area under Gacha Police Station in Gazipur, bringing vehicle movement to a halt.

When law enforcement personnel arrived, some workers threw bricks and stones at them. Police responded by firing tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the crowd. No immediate casualties were reported.

Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Mohammad Amjad Hossain said the situation had remained normal until workers took to the streets at around 9:30am.

"At around 9:30 AM, 2 to 4 thousand workers came onto the street in the Gacha Police Station area," he said.

He said clashes and chases took place between workers and police before officers dispersed the protesters using tear gas.

Workers had also gathered in the Joydebpur area at around 8:30am but were later dispersed, he said.

The situation remained normal in Salna, Rajendrapur, Safipur and Palli Bidyut, although some tension persisted in Kashimpur, where police remained on alert, Amjad added.

Meanwhile, workers gathered at the Padma intersection in Hemayetpur, Savar, on Wednesday morning and blocked the road. Police charged with batons and fired several rounds of tear gas to disperse them, triggering repeated chases and counter-chases.

Workers were also seen gathering outside factories in Narayanganj. Police said the situation there remained normal and security personnel were on alert.

BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan urged workers to remain patient, saying the wage board had been formed and should be allowed to work independently. He said the minimum wage would be announced soon and called on workers to avoid violence and maintain law and order.

Three cases filed over factory vandalism in Savar-Ashulia, 11 arrested

Three cases have been filed over alleged vandalism at factories amid labour unrest in the industrial areas of Savar and Ashulia, Dhaka, with more than 2,300 unnamed people accused. Police have arrested 11 people in connection with the incidents.

One case was filed at Savar Model Police Station on Tuesday, November 3, while two others were filed at Ashulia Police Station on Monday, November 2.

Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Tariqul Islam said authorities of two factories filed the cases on Monday night over alleged vandalism during the ongoing labour protests.

Between 800 and 1,000 unnamed people were accused in the two cases, and five people have been arrested, he said.

Savar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam said a factory authority filed a case alleging vandalism and attacks on employees during the labour movement.

Between 1,200 and 1,300 unnamed people were accused in the case, and six people have been arrested, he said.

At around 10:15pm on Tuesday, Additional Superintendent of Police (Savar Circle) Rakibul Hasan Ishan confirmed that two cases had been filed at Ashulia Police Station and one at Savar Model Police Station. Eleven people had been arrested in total, he said.

Garment workers block Dhaka-Aricha Highway

Garment workers blocked the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Savar on Wednesday, demanding a higher minimum wage, an end to blacklisting and the cancellation of what they described as unfair dismissals.

The blockade caused traffic congestion stretching nearly two kilometres, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

At around 9am, workers from several garment factories took positions on the highway near Hemayetpur Bus Stand in Savar.

They said rising living costs had made it increasingly difficult to support their families on a monthly salary of Tk 12,500. They demanded that the minimum wage be raised to Tk 30,000, blacklisting of workers be stopped and unjust dismissals be cancelled.

Police said workers from several factories gathered at the Padma intersection in Tetuljhora Union on Wednesday morning. Workers from AKH Garments initially joined their workplaces but later walked out, joined the protesters and blocked the Dhaka-Aricha Highway.

Savar Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Asaduzzaman Noor said workers had blocked the highway with three demands.

Additional police personnel had been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents, he added.