At least 50 garment factories shut amid fresh unrest in Savar-Ashulia

At least 50 garment factories in Savar and Ashulia declared holidays on Wednesday as fresh unrest broke out in the industrial belt, with workers taking to the streets to demand a higher minimum wage, disrupting factory operations and clashing with law enforcement personnel.

Workers in Hemayetpur, Savar, and Jamgora, Ashulia, initially reported to work as usual in the morning. However, workers from several factories in the Padmar Mor area of Hemayetpur later took to the streets and attempted to block roads, prompting factory authorities to suspend operations.

An additional superintendent of police of Industrial Police-1, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Daily Waadaa that the workers' protest in Padmar Mor led to the suspension of operations at the affected factories.

Around 10am, workers in Jamgora also stopped working and staged protests, demanding an increase in the minimum wage. As the unrest spread, more factory authorities suspended operations and declared general holidays for the day.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters, who later left the streets and returned home.

The situation in Ashulia had eased by noon, although tension persisted in the industrial area.

No casualties were reported immediately.

Law enforcement sources said production continued at most factories across other major industrial belts, despite the unrest.

The latest protests come amid continuing discontent among garment workers over wages and rising living costs. Workers have previously demanded that the monthly minimum wage be raised to 30,000 taka.

On November 1, the government formed a six-member Minimum Wage Board, comprising representatives of workers, employers and other stakeholders, to review the existing wage structure and recommend a revised minimum wage.