GAZIPUR: Bangladesh witnessed clashes between police and around 25,000 protesting garment workers in Gazipur on Thursday. The demonstrations, fueled by discontent over a government-offered pay increase, led to the closure of at least 100 factories outside Dhaka.
A government-appointed panel had approved a 56.25 percent wage hike for the nation’s four million garment factory workers, who had been advocating for nearly triple their current monthly salary.
The garment industry, which contributes around 85 percent to Bangladesh’s annual $55 billion exports, faces worker dissatisfaction, particularly among the predominantly female workforce earning a starting monthly pay of 8,300 taka ($75).
Violence erupted in Gazipur and Ashulia as over 10,000 workers protested against the panel’s offer, throwing bricks and stones at officers and factories. Rubber bullets and tear gas were employed by the police to disperse the crowds, resulting in the closure of over 100 factories in Ashulia. In Gazipur, clashes between workers and law enforcement, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), led to injuries and disruptions.
The protesting workers are advocating for a wage increase to 23,000 taka, rejecting the panel’s deemed inadequate. The unions have dismissed the wage hike as “farcical,” pointing out that it fails to keep up with the rising costs of living. Police reported at least three worker fatalities during the protests, while unions accused the authorities of intimidation and arrests of organizers.
The United States condemned the violence against the workers and criticized the “criminalization of legitimate worker and trade union activities.”
The minimum wage is determined by a state-appointed board comprising representatives from manufacturers, unions, and wage experts.
