Garment workers staged demonstrations and blocked roads in Dhaka and Gazipur on Sunday, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, disrupting traffic and triggering clashes with police.

In Dhaka, workers from several garment factories in the Mirpur area blocked the Mirpur-10 intersection around 9:00am, bringing traffic to a standstill on several connecting roads.

Several hundred workers gathered at the intersection and blocked roads connecting Mirpur-11 with Agargaon and Mirpur-2 with Mirpur-13, witnesses said.

A senior female officer of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Traffic Division said traffic remained suspended since around 9:00am due to the blockade.

The blockade was still continuing when this report was filed around 11:25am.

However, the officer, requesting anonymity, said the blockade was expected to be withdrawn soon as the authorities concerned already held discussions with the workers’ leaders.

Earlier, garment workers blocked several roads in Mirpur for around five hours each on October 29 and Saturday, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.

Following Saturday’s blockade, some workers also vandalised several garment factories and shopping malls.

In Gazipur, garment workers blocked several points of the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Gazipur in the morning to press for the same demand, triggering clashes with police and forcing most factories in the affected areas to suspend operations.

The workers staged demonstrations and blockades at Palli Bidyut, Konabari, Bhogra and Naojor areas, disrupting traffic on the busy highway and causing severe suffering to commuters and drivers.

Police fired tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the demonstrators after workers threw bricks and stones at them. Workers also set fire to tree logs and tyres on the road, while clashes and chases between the two sides continued at different points.

Amid the unrest, authorities announced the closure of most garment factories along the stretch from Chandra Palli Bidyut to Konabari to prevent further violence.

The latest round of protests began on Sunday morning, following several days of demonstrations and work stoppages over the wage demand.

Police and local sources said workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail Highway at Chandra Palli Bidyut on Saturday afternoon, bringing traffic to a halt.

Clashes broke out between police and protesting workers, prompting law enforcers to fire sound grenades and tear gas to disperse them.

At least 15 vehicles, including a police vehicle, were vandalised during the violence.

To avoid further trouble, authorities announced the closure of at least 20 factories between Konabari and Chandra Palli Bidyut on Saturday.

On Sunday morning, workers resumed their demonstrations and blocked the highway at several points, including Palli Bidyut, Konabari, Bhogra and Naojor.

Around 10:30am, protesters from a procession in the Konabari area threw bricks and stones at police, prompting them to fire tear gas and sound grenades.

The area quickly turned into a battleground amid clashes and chases between police and workers. Shops and other business establishments in the surrounding areas shut down amid panic.

Superintendent of Police of Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Mohammad Amjad Hossain said most factories in the area were closed to prevent untoward incidents amid the unrest over the wage demand.

Law enforcement personnel remained on alert at different points along the highway to maintain order, he said.

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Md Nurul Karim Bhuiyan said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members were deployed in the industrial areas to prevent further trouble, alongside other law enforcement agencies.

The deployment aims to ensure public safety and restore normalcy in the overall law and order situation amid the ongoing workers' movement.

Under the supervision of five executive magistrates of the Gazipur district administration, BGB members will perform duties in several areas until November 7, says BGB Headquarters Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam on Sunday morning. 

The deployment covers Chandra and Palli Bidyut areas, Safipur, Konabari and Mouchak, Naojor and Bhogra Bypass along the highway.