Garment Workers’ Protests Shut Down 529 Factories, Spark Clashes

Garment employees seeking a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000 demonstrated in Dhaka, Gazipur, and Savar, resulting in police confrontations, property damage, and the shutdown of 529 ready-made garment (RMG) factories.

The unrest began on November 1, with workers blocking major roads and highways. Traffic returned to normal in the afternoon after blockades were lifted, but violence and arson continued throughout the day.

Mirpur clashes and arrests

In Mirpur, workers blocked the Mirpur-10 roundabout around 9:30 a.m., causing widespread traffic disruption. Clashes erupted when police attempted to clear the road at 11:15 a.m., with workers throwing brickbats and setting a police vehicle on fire beneath the Mirpur-11 metro rail station.

Police responded with batons, sound grenades, tear gas, and water cannons. The clashes subsided around 2 p.m., and traffic resumed after hours of disruption. Metro rail services were also affected, with stations closed between noon and 2 p.m.

Mirpur Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabder stated that police had requested workers to clear the road, but they appeared ready to attack. 19 people were detained, including leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations, as stated by Mohammad Rakib Khan, deputy commissioner of the DB’s Mirpur Division.

The protests caused severe hardship for Mirpur residents, particularly commuters and students. This marked the third blockade in Mirpur over the wage demand, following incidents on October 29 and 31.

BGB deployment in Gazipur

In Gazipur, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were deployed along the Gazipur-Tangail highway and industrial areas to maintain order. Workers blocked the highway in Kaliakair around 8:30 a.m., halting traffic and causing severe congestion.

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The unrest led to vandalism and arson, with workers setting fire to three locations in the Palli Bidyut area, including a factory warehouse. Police and firefighters faced delays due to the blockade but eventually controlled the fires.

Several police officers were injured when a police box was set on fire in Konabari. Authorities held discussions with workers to resolve the situation peacefully. Workers began leaving the highway around 3 p.m., restoring traffic.

Over 100 factories in Gazipur declared holidays due to the protests, according to Superintendent of Police Md Amzad Hossain.

Savar protests and factory closures

In Savar, workers from AKH Group and nearby factories blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway in the Hemayetpur area around 3 p.m., disrupting traffic. The blockade lasted for about an hour and a half before protesters withdrew at police officials’ request.

However, another group blocked the highway again around 5 p.m., alleging someone had recorded them from a moving vehicle. Police intervened and persuaded them to leave, restoring normal traffic flow.

Earlier, protesters set fire to a security post at an AKH Group factory using chairs and bamboo. They also vandalized the factory, throwing bricks and stones, damaging glass panels, and vehicles inside the premises.

Some protesters were seen on the highway with sticks, their faces covered by black cloth and masks. Witnesses reported aggressive behavior towards anyone attempting to document the protest.

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More than 50 factories in Ashulia declared holidays by lunchtime due to the unrest, according to an internal garment sector source. Industry sources suggested this number could rise as the day progressed, though Industrial Police did not provide an official count.

Detainees and Allegations in Mirpur Protests

A total of 19 people were detained in connection with the Mirpur protests, with 11 arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) and eight by the Mirpur Division. They were apprehended during operations in and around Mirpur-10, with some grassroots-level leaders from Barishal, Patuakhali, Cox’s Bazar, and Gaibandha among those taken into custody.

Alif Mollah, a relative of a former lawmaker, was accused of bringing a group of 100 to 150 people to the protests with the intent to cause disruption. Legal proceedings were initiated against the detainees, according to a police official. Authorities suspected that a group might have infiltrated the protests to exacerbate the situation.

Ongoing tensions and government response

Tensions persisted across several areas, despite no major disruptions reported in parts of the industrial zone after noon. A senior official from Pretty Group stated that their factory was forced to declare a holiday after external workers gathered and caused disruptions.

Protesting workers staged sit-ins and chanted slogans outside open factories, demanding their closure. These demonstrations were observed along the Baipail-Abdullahpur road, including in Jamgora.

The situation is being closely monitored, and efforts are being made to address the workers’ demands and restore normalcy to the affected areas.