Workers, police clash repeatedly in Gazipur

Tensions escalated in Kaliakair, Gazipur, on Monday as garment workers clashed repeatedly with police on the fourth day of protests demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.

Workers blocked sections of the Dhaka-Tangail highway, disrupting traffic, while police fired sound grenades and tear gas to bring the situation under control.

Around noon, workers from different alleys in the Palli Bidyut area hurled brickbats at police and continued attempting to block several sections of the highway.

Earlier, workers blocked roads in Palli Bidyut, Harinhati and Mouchak areas around 8:30am and began vandalising vehicles. Police attempted to disperse them, further escalating tensions.

To restore order in the industrial area, 10 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed from Monday morning under the supervision of 21 executive magistrates.

All factories in Gazipur remained closed amid the unrest, while tension continued across the area.

Kaliakair Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahidul Islam said workers were dispersed several times but repeatedly returned to the highway and attempted to create disorder.

He said police were making every effort to control the situation.