Bangladesh garment protests enter fourth day as factories shut and wage board formed
Around 700 garment factories are closed or on holiday after four days of protests demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka, up from the current 12,500 taka. Police have used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse crowds, injuring dozens of people, including 58 officers. The government announced a six‑member wage board to review pay, while paramilitary forces and drones have been deployed in industrial suburbs around Dhaka.
Key facts
- Workers currently earn about 13,000 taka per month, according to Kalpona Akter.
- The garment sector accounts for more than 80% of Bangladesh’s export earnings, worth up to $38 billion.
- The protests began on Saturday and have continued despite the wage board formation.
- Dozens of people, including several police officers, were injured in clashes across industrial belts around Dhaka.
- Workers demand a 30,000‑taka monthly wage, a 140% increase from the current 12,500 taka.
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Why it matters
The sector provides over 80% of Bangladesh’s export earnings and employs about 4 million workers.
What changed
First published from The Times of India, South China Morning Post, Bangkok Post, Dawn and CNA