Bangladesh forms wage board as garment protests turn violent
Summary
Bangladesh has formed a six-member wage board as garment workers continue violent protests demanding a higher minimum wage of 30,000 taka. The unrest has disrupted transport and factory operations across major industrial areas, raising concerns for the country’s vital export sector.
Key Points
- Bangladesh announced a six-member wage board to review garment workers’ pay and urged employees to return to work.
- Thousands of workers continued protests across Dhaka, Gazipur and Ashulia, with police using tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators.
- The demonstrations forced dozens of factories to shut and disrupted transport in key industrial belts.
- The garment industry, which drives most of Bangladesh’s export earnings, faces added pressure from rising costs and energy shortages.
