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Garment workers blocked roads across several areas of Mirpur in the capital on Sunday (November 1), demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 and other benefits, bringing traffic to a standstill across a major part of Dhaka.
The protests began around 9:00am, with workers taking positions on roads in Mirpur-1, Mirpur-2, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-12 and Pallabi.
According to police and local sources, the demonstrations started with a road blockade at Mirpur-10 roundabout. Later, workers from several garment factories occupied roads in Mirpur-11, Mirpur-12 and the Proshika intersection. Protesters also took positions in Mirpur-1 and Mirpur-2.
The road blockades caused severe inconvenience to commuters, including office-goers, many of whom were forced to walk to their destinations after failing to find transport.
Asad, an office employee stranded at Mirpur-10, said he had boarded a bus in the morning to go to work but had to get off and continue on foot because of the blockade.
“I don’t know whether I will be able to reach the office on time on the first working day of the week,” he said.
Another commuter, Kayum, said he had been sitting on a bus for a long time before deciding to get off and walk. He described walking in the heat as extremely difficult.
Garment workers also blocked roads in Mirpur on Saturday over the same demands. The blockade halted traffic in Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-12 and adjoining areas from around 10:30am to 1:00pm.
At one stage, the workers gathered in the Shah Ali area of Mirpur-1, where several markets and garment factories were reportedly vandalised. Scuffles, chases and clashes also broke out between workers and security personnel.
The workers said soaring prices of essential commodities had made it increasingly difficult to meet household expenses. They are demanding that the minimum monthly wage for garment workers be raised to Tk 30,000 in line with the rising cost of living.
Meanwhile, law enforcement personnel remained deployed in the affected areas to maintain order.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Mirpur Division) Mohammad Nasher Rikabdar said workers had blocked the roads again on Sunday and police were working to bring the situation under control.
