Garment workers block roads in Mirpur again demanding higher wages
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Garment workers from several factories blocked roads and staged protests in the capital's Mirpur area for the fourth consecutive day, demanding that the minimum monthly wage be raised to Tk 30,000.
The protests began at 9:00 am on Sunday, disrupting traffic in Mirpur 10, 11 and 12 and surrounding areas. Commuters traveling through the area have been facing severe difficulties.
Police and local residents said the workers began their protest by blocking roads at the Mirpur 10 roundabout around 9:00 am. Later, workers from various garment factories took positions on roads in Mirpur 11, Mirpur 12 and the Proshika intersection area.
Pallabi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Jalal Uddin said workers had taken to the streets in Mirpur 10, 11 and 12 and surrounding areas since the morning. They were blocking roads to press home their demands. Additional police personnel had been deployed at the scene.
Meanwhile, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed at various locations to maintain law and order.
In a message sent by its headquarters, the force said BGB personnel had been deployed in the Chandura and Palli Bidyut areas of Gazipur, Safipur, Konabari, Mouchak, Naojor and Bhogra Bypass to maintain overall law and order amid ongoing labor unrest over workers' demands for higher wages and other benefits.
Earlier, garment workers staged protests in Mirpur from Saturday morning demanding higher wages. The demonstrations later spread to different areas of Mirpur and Pallabi. Incidents of vandalism, clashes and chases and counter-chases were reported at several locations. Several garment factories were shut down for security reasons.
The movement demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 for garment workers began on October 29.
Speaking to police and protesters, it was learned that garment workers took positions on several major roads, including those in Mirpur 10 and Mirpur 11, around 10:30 am on Saturday to demand a wage increase to Tk 30,000. Traffic on major roads came to a halt, triggering severe congestion. Protests and road blockades continued at various locations from morning until noon.
At around 2:30 pm, the protesting workers moved away from the Mirpur 10 roundabout. However, the demonstrations continued. A section of workers spread to the market, shopping centers and surrounding areas near the shrine in Mirpur 1. Several incidents of vandalism took place during this time.
Police said a clash broke out between protesting workers and security personnel of Himalaya Garments in Mirpur 1 under Shah Ali Police Station at around 2:05 pm. At the time, 120 to 150 workers arriving from Mirpur 10 attacked the factory. The nearby Baghdad Shopping Complex was also vandalized.
Later, protesters vandalized Mallick Tower under Shah Ali Police Station between 3:15 pm and 3:25 pm. According to police, the workers became angry following an incident in which a worker named Toufiq was injured in Mirpur 10. They then vandalized Mallick Tower before moving toward Mirpur 2.
At the same time, an attack and vandalism took place at the 22 Tala Garment Palli in Kalshi Adarsha Nagar under Pallabi Police Station. Police said 100 to 150 outsiders attacked the area between 3:20 pm and 3:25 pm.
The daylong protests, road blockades and vandalism at various locations created a tense situation in Mirpur and Pallabi. Several garment factories in the areas remained closed due to labor unrest and security concerns.
