Hundreds of garment workers continued protests in different parts of Gazipur on Monday, a day after the government formed a wage board to review their minimum pay structure, as they pressed for a monthly minimum wage of Tk 30,000.
Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Md Nurul Karim Bhuiyan said workers from several factories in the Palli Bidyut and Mouchak areas blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, bringing traffic to a halt.
After several rounds of confrontation between the protesters and law enforcement agencies the protesters were dispersed and traffic resumed around 10am, he said.
Meanwhile, workers from factories in the Naljani and Lakshmipura areas of Gazipur city also took to the streets in the morning and staged demonstrations on the highway.
Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed alongside police and other law enforcement agencies to maintain order.
The deputy commissioner said 10 platoons of BGB personnel had been deployed in the industrial areas of Gazipur.
The BGB personnel are working under the supervision of 21 executive magistrates to bring the situation under control.
He said law enforcement agencies remained on high alert to prevent damage to public property and ensure the safety of people and their belongings.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday directed the authorities concerned to protect garment workers’ interests and ensure uninterrupted production and export activities in the apparel sector.
The PM also warned that those involved in violence, sabotage and attempts to create disorder in the name of workers’ movement will be dealt with strictly.
