Uttara garment worker protests lead to clashes with police

Clashes broke out between garment workers and police in the Uttara area of Dhaka on Saturday during a protest for higher wages and the payment of arrears. The demonstrators attempted to blockade the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 BDT.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner Rezaul Karim, the confrontation escalated when workers threw bricks and sticks at officers. Police responded with baton charges, tear gas, sound grenades, and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The unrest resulted in over 50 injuries, including approximately 17 to 18 police officers. During the incident, two industrial police vehicles were vandalized, and one officer sustained a broken arm after being assaulted.

BGMEA Senior Vice President Inamul Haque Khan noted that while there is worker dissatisfaction, the protests have been localized to a few factories in Uttara rather than a nationwide movement, suggesting a need to investigate the organizers behind the demonstrations.