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Garment workers and police engaged in repeated chases and counter-chases in Mirpur, Dhaka, amid protests demanding higher wages, disrupting traffic and forcing the temporary closure of three metro rail stations.
Hundreds of readymade garment (RMG) workers took to the streets on November 1, demanding that the minimum monthly wage be raised to Tk 30,000.
The unrest began in the morning when workers from several garment factories blocked roads, particularly around the Mirpur-10 intersection, bringing traffic to a standstill.
Clashes erupted when police attempted to clear the roads. Police used batons, tear gas shells, water cannons and sound grenades to disperse the protesters, while some workers hurled bricks and stones at law enforcers.
At one point, protesters set fire to a police vehicle beneath the Mirpur-11 metro rail station.
Amid the escalating violence, authorities temporarily suspended services at Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11 and Pallabi metro stations on security grounds. Trains continued operating but skipped the affected stations.
The stations were subsequently reopened, and metro rail services returned to normal.
The protests also caused severe traffic congestion, leaving commuters and office-goers struggling to reach their destinations.
The workers’ demand for a Tk 30,000 minimum monthly wage comes amid rising living costs and growing concerns over wages in the country’s garment industry.
