Ashulia Garment Protests Turn Violent, 230 Factories Close

The garment industry areas of Savar and Ashulia turned tense again on Monday, the fifth day of protests by garment workers demanding higher wages and the fulfilment of several other demands. Workers from more than 100 factories took to the streets, clashes with police left at least 150 people injured, and a covered van was set on fire. Two people were arrested, while more than 200 factories declared a general holiday.

Clashes and repeated chases between workers and police broke out on Monday morning. Police fired tear gas and sound grenades to disperse protesters in the Bypail-Abdullahpur area of Ashulia and Hemayetpur in Savar. Reports said at least 150 workers were injured, along with several industrial police personnel.

During the unrest, a covered van belonging to a garment factory was set on fire in the Narsinghpur area of Ashulia. The clashes prompted authorities at many factories across the industrial zone to declare a general holiday. A total of 230 garment factories in Savar and Ashulia had reportedly announced closures during the protests over the past several days.

Savar lawmaker Dr Dewan Mohammad Salahuddin Babu expressed concern over the situation. Visiting an area affected by severe traffic congestion caused by road blockades, he alleged that people linked to the ousted government were attempting to destabilise the garment sector in Savar and Ashulia. He also claimed that outsiders were joining the workers’ demonstrations and creating disorder.

Industrial police in Savar also alleged that outsiders were forcing workers to leave factories and take to the highways, causing even workers who wanted to remain peaceful to leave their workplaces. These allegations could not be independently verified.

Clashes began after 10am on Monday in the Narsinghpur and Nishchintapur areas along the Abdullahpur-Baipail road. Workers later took to the streets in different parts of Savar, blocking traffic. Police used batons and fired tear gas to remove protesters from the roads.

According to eyewitnesses, workers first gathered outside an Ananta Group factory and later outside a Ha-Meem Group factory in Ashulia. Tensions escalated when they attempted to block roads over their demands, leading to repeated chases and clashes with police. Officers fired tear gas and sound grenades in an attempt to disperse the crowds.

Around noon, a covered van belonging to a garment factory was set on fire in front of the Nadi Filling Station in Narsinghpur. As the situation deteriorated, authorities at most operating garment factories along the roads declared a general holiday.

Earlier, around 9:30am, workers at the New Age factory in Narsinghpur began demonstrating after ending a work stoppage and leaving the factory.

Industrial Police-1 Assistant Superintendent of Police (Operations and Intelligence) Shoaib Ahmed sustained minor injuries from brickbats during the clashes. He said police and other law enforcement agencies were working to control the situation and that several police personnel had been injured.

The area remained tense until at least 1:30pm, with workers and law enforcement personnel facing each other. Additional police were deployed at the scene and nearby areas to maintain order.

Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tariqul Islam said two people were arrested from Bypail around 1:30pm in connection with the unrest. Authorities were still verifying whether they were workers or outsiders.

Garment workers have been protesting for several days, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 and other concessions.