Why Are Bangladesh Garment Workers Protesting for a Fourth Day?

Garment workers in Bangladesh continued their wage protests for a fourth consecutive day on Tuesday, as police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The unrest disrupted factory operations and transport links across the country's crucial garment export sector.

But why are workers continuing their demonstrations despite the government's decision to form a six-member wage board to review salaries in the industry?

The protests, which began on Saturday, have intensified as workers demand better pay amid rising living costs and persistent inflation. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest apparel exporter after China, making the ongoing unrest a major concern for the country's economy.

The timing is particularly challenging for manufacturers, who are entering the peak production period for spring and summer export orders. The garment industry employs approximately four million workers, supplies international brands such as H&M, Zara and Gap, and contributes more than 80 per cent of Bangladesh's total export earnings.

Where have the protests taken place, and how serious have the clashes become?

Fresh demonstrations and clashes were reported across major industrial areas surrounding Dhaka, including Ashulia, Gazipur and Mirpur. Workers attempted to block several major highways, while dozens of people, including police officers, were injured during confrontations.

In Ashulia, police used tear gas and sound grenades after protesters allegedly threw bricks and stones at law enforcement personnel, according to Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police. Similar crowd-control measures were also taken in Dhaka's Mirpur area, police said.

Additional security forces have been deployed across industrial areas to contain the unrest. Meanwhile, several factories in Gazipur and Ashulia have again suspended operations or announced holidays. This follows the closure of nearly 700 factories a day earlier.

Workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka, approximately £180, compared with the existing minimum wage of 12,500 taka. They argue that rising prices and persistent inflation have significantly reduced their purchasing power, making it increasingly difficult to manage their living expenses.

Several factories have also been vandalised during the unrest, raising concerns among industry stakeholders about the potential economic consequences.

Could the ongoing protests affect Bangladesh's position in the global garment market?

Industry officials have warned that prolonged factory closures could delay shipments, disrupt production schedules and damage Bangladesh's reputation as a reliable sourcing destination. The country is already competing with major garment-exporting nations such as Vietnam and India for international orders.

The government formed a six-member wage board on November 1 to review salaries in the garment sector. However, the decision has so far failed to satisfy workers or bring an end to the demonstrations.

At the same time, factory owners are facing increasing operational expenses, uncertainty in energy markets linked to conflict in the Middle East and weaker demand in some major export markets.

With workers continuing to demand higher wages and improved working conditions, factory owners fear that prolonged unrest could threaten production targets and jeopardise important international export orders.