At least 50 garment factories in Ashulia, Savar, have declared a general holiday following protests and work stoppages by garment workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 and other benefits.

The protests spread across the industrial area on Sunday as workers staged demonstrations over several demands, including an end to blacklisting and arbitrary layoffs.

Ashulia Industrial Police-1 Superintendent of Police Mominul Islam Bhuiyan confirmed the development around 2:00pm on Sunday (November 1).

According to sources, workers at Al-Muslim, Trouser Line and New Age garment factories in the Nishchintapur area initially joined work in the morning but later stopped working and came out onto the streets. Workers from nearby factories subsequently joined the demonstrations in solidarity.

Around noon, protesting workers gathered on the road in front of Ananta Garments in the Narsinghpur area. A chase and counter-chase took place between police and workers when law enforcement personnel attempted to disperse them. No immediate reports of casualties were available.

The workers said their key demands include setting the minimum monthly wage at Tk 30,000, stopping the blacklisting of workers and preventing arbitrary layoffs by factory authorities.

Khairul Mamun Mintu, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Sweater Workers Trade Union Centre, said workers had launched the movement over three major demands, including the proposed minimum wage of Tk 30,000.

He noted that a wage board had been formed on Sunday, but workers in different factories across Ashulia continued their demonstrations in support of their demands.

SP Mominul Islam Bhuiyan said workers had been observing work stoppages since morning. Following the protests, authorities declared a general holiday at 50 factories.