Workers agitation in Gazipur, over 150 factories closed
A police vehicle has been set on fire in Gazipur. Photo: Agamir Somoy.
Two highways in Gazipur have again got heated over the workers' movement. Because of labour agitation, over 150 garment factories have announced their closures. A section of workers from these factories are protesting by blocking roads in various locations.
Multiple clashes and chase-and-counter-chase incidents have occurred with police and BGB as they tried to disperse the protesters. A BGB member was injured in the process. Additionally, three police vehicles were vandalized and set on fire. There were also attacks on journalists and incidents of camera vandalism.
Since Monday morning, workers began agitating by blocking roads in the Safipur, Palli Bidyut, and Chandra areas of Gazipur on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway. Around 11 am, when police and BGB members moved in to remove the protesters, tensions escalated. At that time, a BGB member was injured by a brick thrown by the protesters.
Meanwhile, around noon, agitated workers vandalized and set fire to multiple police vehicles in the Naozor area of Gazipur city. At that time, they attacked a Somoy TV reporter and cameraperson and vandalized their camera. There have also been previous allegations of attacks on multiple journalists, beatings, and mobile phone snatching during the movement.
To keep the situation under control, members of law enforcement agencies have been deployed at various important points of the Dhaka-Tangail Highway. They are trying to keep traffic normal on the highway. As of the latest reports, traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway is normal.
Superintendent of Police Amjad Hossain of Gazipur Industrial Police said that workers are protesting in various locations again on Monday. Due to the movement, over 150 factories have announced closures. BGB, district and metropolitan police, and industrial police are working jointly to keep the situation under control.
Workers have been protesting for several days in various areas including Mirpur, Gazipur, Savar, and Ashulia, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, an end to the blacklisting practice, and reinstatement of terminated workers. The movement continued on Monday as well.
Workers said that with rising costs for house rent, food, transportation, and other daily necessities, it has become difficult to run a household on the current wage.
Meanwhile, due to the protests, at least 529 garment factories announced closures on Sunday as well, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Amid this heated situation, the government formed a new minimum wage board for the ready-made garment industry on Sunday. The board's task is to recommend a new wage structure after hearing from workers and employers. However, the authority to determine the final wage rests with the government.
