Garment workers in Gazipur have started returning to their workplaces as the industrial areas gradually return to normal following several days of labour unrest over demands for higher wages.

Most factories resumed production on Wednesday, November 4, after the government formed a new wage board to review the minimum pay structure for workers in the readymade garment (RMG) sector.

Traffic movement along the Dhaka-Tongi, Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways was also reported to be normal from Wednesday morning.

Workers had staged demonstrations and blocked roads across Gazipur from Saturday to Tuesday, demanding an increase in the minimum monthly wage to Tk 30,000. The protests led to clashes, vandalism and the closure of a large number of factories.

At a press conference at the Gazipur Press Club on Tuesday, leaders of the Shramik Mukti Sangram Parishad, a platform comprising 35 labour organisations, urged workers to return to their jobs.

The organisation's president, Tamiz Uddin Tanu, said the garment industry was one of the major driving forces of the country's economy. He called on all concerned to remain alert so that outsiders or vested groups could not exploit workers' legitimate wage demands to create instability.

He also demanded swift action against those involved in vandalism, arson and attacks on police during the protests.

Mohammad Shafiul Alam, joint convener of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, said the formation of the wage board had created an opportunity to resolve workers' demands through dialogue. He expressed confidence that a fair solution could be reached through discussions and called for humane treatment of workers.

Security measures strengthened

Law enforcement agencies maintained a strong presence across Gazipur's industrial belt from Wednesday morning to prevent further unrest.

According to the district administration, 12 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), eight platoons of SRB, five platoons of Ansar, along with police and industrial police personnel, were deployed. A total of 25 executive magistrates were also assigned to maintain security.

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nurul Karim Bhuiyan said workers were gradually realising that the government was taking steps to address their demands. He added that ordinary workers were becoming reluctant to participate in further protests.

He said traffic on roads and highways had returned to normal and the overall situation in the district was under control.

Local lawmakers, the administrator of Gazipur City Corporation and representatives of different political and administrative bodies were also monitoring the situation and encouraging workers to return to their workplaces.