Garment Workers Clash with Police Over Wage Demands
Garment workers clashed with police in Savar and Gazipur on November 4, continuing protests demanding higher minimum wages. In Savar, workers blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Hemayetpur and Fulbaria, burning waste and halting traffic for nearly an hour before police intervened with tear gas and sound grenades. The protests began early in the morning, with workers gathering at Padma Mor in Hemayetpur, a focal point of the previous day’s demonstrations. Police initially dispersed the crowd in two phases of tear gas firing, but protesters regrouped in nearby alleys and roads, leading to prolonged clashes.
Traffic resumed around 10:30 a.m. after police cleared the highway. Three platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in the Savar industrial zone, alongside police and executive magistrates, to maintain order. BGB personnel remain on high alert at key locations, including Hemayetpur, supported by executive magistrates from the district and upazila administrations.
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Savar factories shut down as tensions rise
At 8:35 a.m., eight factories in the Padma Mor and Hemayetpur areas sent their workers home, while two others suspended operations entirely. The affected factories include Civil Engineers Woven Ltd, Civil Engineers Wash Ltd, Shamsh Styling Wear Ltd, Rupkatha Apparels Ltd, Padma Cans Ltd, Babylon Casual Wear Ltd, Aboni Knitwear Ltd, and Jeans Manufacture Ltd. Maxcom International BD Ltd and Pioneer Apparels Ltd halted production.
In Mirpur-11, a confrontation between workers and police escalated, forcing law enforcement to withdraw from the scene. Workers had gathered in front of a garment factory in the morning, and a heated exchange erupted when police arrived to control the situation. The workers’ anger intensified, leading to the police retreat to avoid further conflict.
Gazipur sees fresh clashes, heavy police presence
In Gazipur, clashes erupted on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in the Signboard area around 9:30 a.m. Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Mohammad Amzad Hossain estimated 2,000 to 4,000 workers participated in the protests. He noted that workers moving towards Joydebpur around 8:30 a.m. were also dispersed. The situation remained tense in Kashimpur, while areas like Salna, Rajendrapur, Sofipur, and Palli Bidyut were relatively calm.
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Twenty-five platoons of joint forces, including 12 from BGB, eight from the Special Response Battalion (SRB), and five from Ansar, have been deployed in Gazipur under 25 executive magistrates. The personnel began field duties at 6 a.m., supported by Gazipur Metropolitan Police, District Police, Industrial Police, Highway Police, the Armed Police Battalion, and Ansar. Assistant Commissioner Md Arif Hossain confirmed the deployment and stated that vehicular movement on major highways was normal as of 9 a.m.
Violence and arrests mark ongoing unrest
Over the past few days, workers in Gazipur have blocked major highways, demanding higher wages. Arson attacks targeted a police box, police vehicles, and a factory warehouse. Clashes with police have resulted in injuries, including the death of a worker named Toufiq, who was assaulted while recording vandalism in Banglabazar. Four cases have been filed, and 36 people arrested in connection with the incidents, according to the district administration. Law enforcement agencies remain on high alert to prevent further damage and ensure public safety, managing the situation with patience and professionalism.
