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Hundreds of garment factories in Bangladesh have halted production as workers continue protests demanding higher wages, with police using tear gas and stun grenades to disperse demonstrators in several industrial areas.
According to police and eyewitness accounts, protests that began in the capital Dhaka have spread to industrial zones around the city, leading to clashes between workers and security forces.
Police intervene as protests spread across industrial areas
In Fatullah, an area of Narayanganj outside Dhaka, clashes between protesters and police left dozens of people injured, according to local reports. Police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse crowds, while several demonstrators were reportedly detained.
Ashulia Industrial Police Chief Mominul Islam Bhuiyan said around 100 factories in Ashulia, located in the Savar industrial area near Dhaka, had suspended operations due to the protests.
Workers also blocked a major road in the Gazipur area, one of Bangladesh's key industrial centres, as demonstrations continued.
More than 10,000 police officers were deployed in Dhaka's Mirpur area, one of the main protest locations, to maintain security. Joint Police Commissioner Mahidul Islam said the measures were taken to preserve public order.
Workers demand higher minimum wage amid rising living costs
Garment workers in Bangladesh are demanding that the monthly minimum wage be increased from 12,500 taka (around $102) to 30,000 taka (around $245), arguing that rising living costs and inflation have significantly reduced their purchasing power.
The garment industry is one of the country's most important economic sectors, employing around 4 million people, most of whom are women from rural areas.
Bangladesh has around 2,500 garment factories, and the sector generates approximately $40 billion in annual export revenue, making the country one of the world's largest clothing exporters.
In response to the wage demands, the government established a new wage determination board. Board Chairman Syed Azad Subhani said workers would receive their first salaries under the new wage structure in January.(ILKHA)
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