More than 200 factories in Ashulia and Gazipur on Sunday declared holidays amid protests by garment workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka and the fulfilment of several other demands.

Superintendent of Police of Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Mohammad Amjad Hossain confirmed the development to Daily Waadaa in the evening, hours after police fired tear gas and sound grenades as clashes broke out between garment workers and law enforcers.

In Gazipur, workers staged demonstrations and blockades at Palli Bidyut, Konabari, Bhogra and Naojor, disrupting traffic along the busy highway and causing severe suffering for commuters and drivers. Protesters also set fire to tree logs and tyres on the road, while clashes and chases between workers and police continued at different locations.

Amid the unrest, authorities announced the closure of most garment factories along the stretch from Chandra Palli Bidyut to Konabari to prevent further violence.

In Ashulia, the situation remained largely normal in the morning but began to deteriorate around noon as workers from several factories took to the streets.

An additional superintendent of police at Ashulia Industrial Police-1, speaking to Daily Waadaa on condition of anonymity, said more than 100 factories in the area had declared holidays and suspended operations.

“These include factories under Alliance Group, Ratul Group and Pretty Group,” the official said.

Police personnel were deployed at different locations, including in front of factories, to maintain order and prevent further escalation.

The official said the situation in Zirabo and other parts of Savar had returned to normal, although workers were still demonstrating around the Hemayetpur bus stand.

According to eyewitnesses and Ashulia Industrial Police-1 officials, most factories had been operating normally in the morning. However, factory administrations began suspending operations and declaring holidays after workers started demonstrations and took to the roads.

Earlier, around 10:45am, workers from several factories gathered on the Abdullahpur–Baipail road in front of a Sharmin Group factory in Narsinghpur, Ashulia.

They chanted slogans demanding higher wages and other benefits. At one point, industrial police asked them to move off the road and stand to one side. The workers complied before calling on employees of Sharmin Group to join their demonstration.

Several other factories in the area and nearby industrial locations also declared holidays amid concerns over the deteriorating situation.

Industrial Bangladesh Council General Secretary Salahuddin Shapon said workers had legitimate demands and were exercising their rights through demonstrations. However, he expressed concern that people from outside the workforce might be involved in vandalism.

“Workers are demonstrating for their rights, but I think outsiders are involved in the vandalism, not the workers themselves,” he told Waadaa.

He said the authorities should distinguish between workers peacefully demanding better wages and individuals involved in destructive activities.

Shapon stressed that workers' concerns over wages and other workplace issues should be addressed through dialogue involving the government, factory owners and labour representatives.

“Workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka because their living expenses have increased significantly. Their demands should be addressed through meaningful discussions rather than allowing the situation to deteriorate.

“The government, factory owners and labour organisations need to sit together and find a sustainable solution. At the same time, any individuals involved in vandalism should be identified and dealt with according to the law.

“We do not support violence or destruction of property. Our position is that workers should be able to raise their demands peacefully and that their genuine grievances should receive proper attention.”

Meanwhile, garment workers staged fresh demonstrations in several industrial areas of Gazipur.

Workers blocked several sections of the Dhaka-Tangail Highway from the morning, bringing traffic to a standstill in parts of Kaliakair upazila, including Safipur Bazar, Chandra Palli Bidyut, Mouchak and Telichala.

In Dhaka's Mirpur, clashes between workers and police turned violent, with protesters setting fire to a police vehicle.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (AC) Mahfuzul Haque Bakshi of the Mirpur Traffic Division confirmed that two fire service units had reached Mirpur-11 and were working to extinguish the blaze.

The situation escalated around 11:45am when police moved to clear the roads in Mirpur-10. A chase and counter-chase followed, as law enforcers fired several tear gas canisters and charged at protesters with batons. Both sides exchanged brick chips during the clashes.

Bakshi said several hundred garment workers had been demonstrating on roads in Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-12 and nearby areas since 9:00am.

The protests followed several days of demonstrations and work stoppages over the wage demand. Workers from different factories joined Sunday's demonstrations after initially arriving at their workplaces in the morning.

Meanwhile, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury announced on Sunday that the government had formed a six-member wage board to review the minimum wage structure for garment workers.

The government has urged workers to return to their workplaces and resolve their demands through discussions. However, demonstrations continued in several industrial areas, with workers blocking roads and highways and police maintaining a heightened presence around factories and key intersections.