November 3: India is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh after protests by garment workers demanding higher wages turned violent. On Tuesday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India continues to follow developments in the neighbouring country.
Clashes have been reported between protesters and law enforcement personnel in several areas, including Mirpur, Ashulia, Gazipur and Narayanganj. Protesters allegedly vandalised vehicles and blocked major roads. Police used tear gas, water cannons and batons to disperse demonstrators. Additional paramilitary forces have also been deployed to control the situation.
According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 670 of around 4,000 registered garment factories in Dhaka, Gazipur and central Mymensingh have been forced to shut down amid the protests.
The workers are demanding an increase in the minimum monthly wage from 12,500 taka to 30,000 taka. The BGMEA estimates that more than four million people are employed in Bangladesh's garment industry, one of the country's major sources of export earnings.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed alleged that some factory owners linked to the now-dissolved Awami League, led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, were also playing a role in fuelling unrest. The allegation has not been independently verified.
Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nurul Karim Bhuiyan said 10 teams of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had been deployed in the industrial area to maintain order.
