By Islam El-Sakka
Police clashed with garment workers demanding higher wages in Bangladesh on Wednesday, shutting hundreds of factories and disrupting an industry that employs about 4 million people and earns $40 billion annually in exports.
Workers Demand Higher Minimum Wage
Workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 takas ($245), up from the current 12,500 takas, saying rising living costs and inflation have eroded their purchasing power. The industry employs about 4 million workers, mostly women from rural Bangladesh.
Clashes Reported in Industrial Areas
After days of demonstrations in the capital Dhaka, violence erupted in several industrial areas on its outskirts. In Fatullah, Narayanganj district, dozens were injured as police fired tear gas and used stun grenades to disperse protesters, according to media reports. Prothom Alo reported several arrests in Fatullah. About 100 factories remain shut in Ashulia, Savar, said Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police. Workers also blocked a major highway in Gazipur district, another major industrial hub.
Government Forms Wage Board
The government responded by forming a new wage board. Its chairman, Syed Azad Subhani, said workers would receive their first salaries under the new pay scale in January.
Police Deployment and Arrests
More than 10,000 police officers were deployed in Dhaka’s Mirpur area, an epicenter of recent protests, to maintain order, said Mahidul Islam, a joint police commissioner.
