Worker-Police Clashes in Mirpur, Metro Rail Station Closed

New tensions have erupted in Mirpur, Dhaka, amid the ongoing workers’ movement demanding a minimum wage of BDT 30,000. On Tuesday (November 3), at approximately 10:15 AM, protesting garment workers blocked roads and began demonstrating in the Mirpur-11 area.

To disperse the workers, police fired sound grenades and tear gas. In response, workers also threw bricks and stones at the police. Chases and counter-chases continued between the two sides.

Meanwhile, the Mirpur Metro Rail station has been closed due to the workers’ agitation, causing significant suffering for commuters in the area.

According to BGMEA data, as of Monday (November 2) at 3:30 PM, out of a total of 2,134 garment factories across five industrial zones in the country, 1,455 were operational. Production remained suspended in the remaining 679 factories due to worker unrest.

BGMEA’s figures show that out of 320 factories in Mirpur, workers left 55, preventing 53,840 workers from joining work.

In the Gazipur and Mymensingh regions, 382 out of 836 factories were closed. In the Savar, Ashulia, and Zirani industrial zones, production was halted in 223 out of 441 factories. Approximately 743,000 workers in these factories stopped working.

Conversely, in Narayanganj, workers stopped work and left 9 out of 199 factories. However, no worker unrest or production halts occurred in Chittagong’s 340 factories.

BGMEA sources stated that production activities in the factories are being hampered as workers leave their workplaces. The relevant authorities and law enforcement agencies are working to normalize the situation.

Garment workers have been protesting for several days in Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia, and various parts of Dhaka, demanding a minimum wage of BDT 30,000, among other demands. Clashes between police and workers have also occurred in various locations surrounding the movement.

The post Worker-Police Clashes in Mirpur, Metro Rail Station Closed appeared first on Bangla Online News Portal.