Dhaka: Textile factory workers staged protests across three areas of Bangladesh on Sunday, demanding higher wages. Demonstrations in parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka, turned violent, with clashes and incidents of arson reported.
In Dhaka’s Mirpur area, workers blocked roads and allegedly threw bricks and stones at police personnel. A police vehicle was also set on fire during the protest.
In Gazipur, workers blocked a highway and reportedly set a police station on fire. Meanwhile, at least 30 factories remained closed in Ashulia amid the unrest.
The workers are demanding an increase in the minimum monthly wage from 9,600 taka to approximately 23,000 taka. They say the current wage level needs to be raised, prompting demonstrations in several industrial areas.
The protests have disrupted traffic and affected factory operations in the areas involved. Police and local authorities faced a challenging situation as demonstrations spread across the three locations.
The reported incidents of stone-throwing, vehicle arson and damage to public property have added to concerns over the ongoing labour unrest. Further developments, including any official response to the workers’ wage demands and details of injuries or arrests, were not provided in the available report.
