At least 264 garment factories in Savar and Ashulia on the outskirts of Dhaka declared a general holiday on Monday following clashes between workers and police over wage demands and other labour-related issues.
Superintendent of Police of Industrial Police-1 Mominul Islam Bhuiyan confirmed the development to Dhaka Post on Monday afternoon.
Workers have been protesting for the third consecutive day, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, an end to blacklisting and a halt to worker layoffs.
In the morning, garment workers took to the streets in the Baroi Para area of the Nabinagar-Chandra highway to press their three-point demands. Police later persuaded them to leave the road.
Meanwhile, workers at New Age Garments in Nishchintapur entered the factory premises and staged a work stoppage before gathering in front of Ananta Garments on the Baipail-Abdullahpur road.
Several factories, including Knit Asia, Al-Muslim, Trouser Line and Ananta Garments, also declared a general holiday, as they had done the previous day.
Tensions escalated when workers gathered on the road and police attempted to disperse them. Workers allegedly hurled bricks and stones at police, triggering chases and counter-chases. Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Agitated workers also set fire to a covered van in the Narsinghpur area, further escalating the situation.
According to police, clashes and stone-throwing incidents were reported in front of several factories, including Picard Bangladesh Ltd, Artistic Design, Jan-Jan Sweater Ltd, Ferrari Garments Ltd, Denitex Ltd, Anlima Textile Ltd, Al Islam Textile Ltd and GQ Industries.
Police later attempted to bring the situation under control through discussions with workers. Two garment workers were detained in connection with the incidents.
Mominul Islam Bhuiyan said additional police personnel had been deployed in Savar and Ashulia to prevent further unrest and maintain law and order.
The situation remained tense in parts of the industrial belt.
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