Image source, SHAMIM-US-SALEHIN / AFP via Getty Images
On Sunday, the protest of about 10 lakh workers associated with Bangladesh's textile industry increased so much that work came to a standstill in 529 factories of the country.
According to BBC News Bangla, about 9 lakh 87 thousand workers of the country did not work in garment factories on Sunday.
On Sunday, a large number of textile workers took to the streets with their demands but their number is not known.
Industry owners fear that if the situation does not improve, production may be affected on Monday also.
These demonstrations are taking place in many industrial areas of the capital Dhaka. During the protests on Sunday, incidents of vandalism, road jams and clashes with the police also came to light. Police also released tear gas shells.
Image source: Mamunur Rashid/NurPhoto via Getty Images
In the year 2024, Bangladesh has seen many violent protests and political turmoil one after the other till the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power after the student movement, the formation of an interim government and then the coming to power of Tariq Rahman's government after the general elections.
In the latest protest, garment factory workers are demanding to increase their minimum monthly wage to 30 thousand taka (about Rs 21 thousand) monthly minimum wage. Currently his current salary is 12,500 Taka (approximately Rs 8,800). That means they are demanding to double it.
Workers say that the rising cost of food, house rent, transportation and health services has severely affected their purchasing power.
End
In view of their demand, the country's Labor and Employment Minister Ariful Haq Chaudhary on Sunday constituted a six-member wage board and appealed to the workers not to protest.
Some textile industry workers told BBC Bangla that even though the government has constituted a wage board, their agitation will continue.
They say that they will continue their protest until the minimum wage is announced.
What did the government say after the emergency meeting?
Image source: Angelina Katsanis/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Big news from the country and the world that made headlines.
episode
According to BBC News Bangla, Prime Minister Tariq Rahman has held an emergency meeting on the violence that took place during the demonstration of garment industry workers demanding minimum wage.
Ministers and advisors participated in this meeting held at the Secretariat on Sunday night.
In the meeting, law and order agencies were instructed to continue production in the factories of the readymade garment industry and ensure safety of people's life and property.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Labor and Employment Minister Ariful Haq Chaudhary said that a decision has been taken in the meeting to deal strictly with the violence.
The Home Minister said that during the movement there were attacks on police, vehicles were vandalized and incidents of arson took place in factories. He told that a warehouse in Kaliakair was also set on fire.
The Home Minister claimed that 'some masked people are trying to serve their own interests by entering the movement.' He also alleged that efforts are being made to influence the country's export trade and textile industry production through cross-border instigation.
According to him, its aim is to create instability in the country.
After the meeting, Labor Minister Ariful Haq Chowdhury told BBC News Bangla, "It is clear that people associated with Awami Fascism have carried out these activities keeping December in mind."
He said, "For this reason, the Prime Minister has directed all concerned parties to remain alert, so that production in the textile industry is not affected and instability is not created in the country."
However, no reaction of Awami League is known on these allegations.
It is noteworthy that in December 2025, severe political violence was witnessed in Bangladesh after the murder of student leader Sharif Usman Hadi. Besides, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is living in exile in India, is also likely to return to Bangladesh this December.
Protests started suddenly in these areas
Image source: ABDUL HAMID
BBC News Bangla, quoting local reports, said that from October 31, these protests suddenly started being reported in Bangladesh, which are mainly related to readymade garments factories.
In important industrial areas of the country, Savar, Ashulia, Mirpur and Ghazipur, workers of readymade garment industry suddenly came out on protest.
They are agitating for many demands including fixing the minimum wage at 30 thousand taka.
During this period, clashes have been recorded between the protesters and the police. Tear gas shells were fired by the police and batons were fired. There were also incidents of setting fire to police vehicles. Due to these demonstrations, initially thirty factories announced closure of their work. On Sunday, the number of affected factories rapidly increased to 500 where the administration itself declared a one-day holiday.
Questions arising behind the sudden demonstration
Questions are also being raised in the national media of Bangladesh regarding the sudden increase in dissatisfaction. According to BBC News Bangla, it has been said in these reports that people associated with this area believe that there are not only immediate demands behind the current sudden unrest.
According to him, the increasing gap between wages and rising market prices and provocation efforts by various groups could also be the reason for this.
The question raised in the report is why this dissatisfaction has suddenly increased among the workers.
Is this just a demand for salary increase, or is there some other motive behind it?
Quoting Bengali newspaper Bonik Barta published from Dhaka, BBC News Bangla has reported that law and order agencies say that leaders and workers of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations are involved in the violent labor protests in Dhaka and Ghazipur.
According to agencies, Sajmul Islam, organizing secretary of the Jagannath University unit of the banned Chhatra League, had led a procession at Kaliakair in Ghazipur.
The picture related to this has also been circulated on social media.
On the other hand, BGMEA and BKMEA, the organizations of owners of the readymade garment industry, do not consider the demonstrations, clashes and violence taking place during this movement as completely normal.
Leaders of both these organizations held a meeting with various factory owners on this issue on Sunday.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem believes that the wage issue is not the main reason for the sudden unrest in the ready-made garment industry.
According to him, there could be some conspiracy against the government behind this.
He told BBC Bangla, "Real workers are not involved in this movement."
"If real workers were in this, it would have ended on the first day."
"There is some other motive behind this. The government should find out that motive."
He claimed that this movement has been going on for the last few days.
According to him, outsiders are attacking various factories there.
How justified is the demand to increase wages by 30 thousand taka?
The owners of the textile industry do not consider the demand for minimum wage of 30 thousand taka to be justified.
BKMEA president told BBC News Bangla, "Wages have been increased in three phases between 2013 and 2023."
He said, "After this, if the minimum wage is increased to 30 thousand taka, then many factories will be closed."
According to him, many employers will not be able to pay such high wages.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem told BBC Bangla, "The workers are demanding a minimum wage of 30 thousand taka."
He said, "The government has constituted a board for this. We want this board to decide the salary as it deems appropriate, keeping in mind the views and circumstances of all parties."
Published by Collective Newsroom for the BBC.
Download the new BBC World Service app
Choose BBC News Hindi and get news alerts, live TV, podcasts... all in one place
Please note: The new app is not available in the UK and US.
Learn more
short video
end of short video
