The government has deployed 34 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel across major industrial areas in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj to maintain security amid ongoing unrest over garment workers' wages.
The paramilitary force confirmed the deployment in a statement on Saturday, saying its personnel were working alongside local administrations and other law enforcement agencies to maintain public order and respond to any security concerns.
The deployment comes as the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector faces renewed labour unrest, with workers demanding an increase in the monthly minimum wage from Tk 12,500 to Tk 30,000.
Protests in several industrial areas have disrupted production in recent weeks, prompting concerns among workers, factory owners and industry representatives over prolonged closures and their economic consequences.
On Friday, representatives of five labour alliances urged garment workers to return to their workplaces and avoid violence or vandalism while a government-formed minimum wage board works on a revised pay structure.
At a joint press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity, the leaders acknowledged workers' financial difficulties, particularly rising house rents and essential commodity prices.
Mir Abul Kalam Azad, president of the IndustriAll Bangladesh Council, presented the joint statement, calling for cooperation among workers, employers and the government to resolve the dispute through dialogue.
The organisations welcomed the formation of the wage board but stressed that any revised pay structure should reflect workers' actual living costs and economic realities.
They also urged factory owners to address workers' grievances through negotiations rather than shutting down factories.
Meanwhile, the BGB said its personnel had been stationed in several industrial hubs, including Savar, Ashulia, Hemayetpur, Zirabo and Jamgora in Dhaka district.
In Narayanganj, the deployment covers Shibu Market, Katherpool, Jalkuri, the BSCIC Industrial Estate, Chashara, Kanchpur and Shimrail.
In Gazipur, personnel have been deployed to Chandra, Palli Bidyut, Mouchak, Ambag Kata, Bhogra Bypass, Gacha, Salna, Naojor and Kashimpur, among other locations.
The force said its personnel remained on alert to respond to any deterioration in the security situation.
A dedicated monitoring cell at BGB headquarters is overseeing operations using live footage from drones, body-worn cameras and other monitoring devices.
The labour alliances have also warned that prolonged production disruptions could deepen workers' financial insecurity, urging all sides to pursue a peaceful resolution while the wage review process continues.