The Bangladesh garment workers protest intensified on Sunday as employees blocked roads in Dhaka and Gazipur, demanding a minimum monthly wage of BDT 30,000, equivalent to approximately Rs 23,000.
The demonstrations turned violent in Gazipur, where protesters blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway and set fire to a police box. The unrest prompted the government to announce the formation of a new minimum wage board and appeal to workers to return to their factories.
The current minimum wage for garment workers was announced in November 2023 and came into effect the following month. It is scheduled to expire next month.
The protests have affected a major employment sector in Bangladesh, which supports more than four million workers across approximately 4,000 registered factories.
Protesters Torch Police Box, Block Dhaka-Tangail Highway
In Gazipur, workers chanting slogans blocked several points along the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Kaliakair upazila, around 55 kilometres from Dhaka.
Some protesters carrying sticks occupied sections of the highway. Reports said several workers had marked their attendance at nearby factories before joining the demonstrations.
A police box located along the highway was also set on fire. Local police confirmed the incident, while Border Guard Bangladesh deployed five platoons to help control the situation.
In Dhaka, garment workers from different parts of Mirpur blocked a major arterial road. The demonstration prompted authorities to close the gates of a nearby metro station, while police personnel were deployed to manage the situation.
Government Forms Minimum Wage Board
Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury announced the formation of a new minimum wage board and urged protesters to leave the streets and resume work.
The minister said the government was treating workers' demands with utmost importance. He added that the board had been formed with representatives proposed by the workers and that its members would be encouraged to meet as soon as possible.
Senior District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Ashfaqur Rahman will chair the board. It includes representatives of factory owners, workers and an independent member.
The owners' representatives include BGMEA director ABM Shamsuddin and Bangladesh Employers' Federation joint secretary-general Asif Ayub. Workers will be represented by Babul Akhter and Anwar Hossain.
Dhaka University professor Mosleh Uddin Ahmed has been appointed as the independent representative.
Garment Sector Faces Wage and Economic Pressures
Bangladesh is the world's second-largest apparel exporter after China. According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, garment exports reached $38.70 billion in the 2025–26 financial year.
The formation of the wage board marks the next step in addressing workers' demands, although the proposed minimum wage and the timeline for a decision remain to be determined.
Official Link: Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association
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