The government has deployed additional troops from the paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in industrial districts as garment workers returned to the factories after a week of unrest in the country's major export sector.
In a press statement, the BGB said a total of 33 platoons of troops were deployed in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Mymensingh districts to restore order and prevent any untoward incidents. They are in addition to the deployment of regular police forces.
In the past week, tens of thousands of workers marched through streets in Dhaka and the Gazipur and Narayanganj industrial areas to demand a wage hike amid rising living costs.
The protests, which began in late October, turned violent in several places, with clashes between police and workers, factories vandalized, and roads blocked, forcing hundreds of plants to suspend operations.
Trade unions and workers have been demanding a hike in the minimum entry-level wage to Tk 30,000 from the existing Tk 12,500, which was fixed in 2023.
The unrest seemingly cooled after a government-appointed panel styled the Minimum Wage Board, comprising representatives from the unions, factory owners, and the government, agreed at a meeting that a revised pay scale would take effect from December.
The panel, however, did not recommend any specific figures as negotiations are ongoing.
The BGB statement said its members are performing security duties in Savar, Ashulia, and Mirpur in Dhaka; Shibu Market, Jalkuri, BSCIC Industrial City, Chashara, Kanchpur, and Shimrail in Narayanganj; and Chandra, Pallibidyut, Mouchak, Ambrag, Kashimpur, Naujore, Bhogra Bypass, Gacha, and Salna areas in Gazipur.
The BGB headquarters has been keeping the situation in the industrial areas under constant observation. The monitoring cell at the headquarters is observing field-level activities and live video footage through technology-based systems, it said.
BGB members are performing duties in coordination with the local administration and police. They have been kept on alert to tackle any possible unrest.
The BGB said its deployment and surveillance activities will continue to maintain a normal and safe working environment in the industrial areas, protect people's lives and property, and keep the overall law and order situation under control.
Meanwhile, workers were seen returning to their factories on Sunday, after a two-day holiday following nearly a week of unrest. Production in the factories has begun in full swing.
Since morning, there were no reports of trouble or workers' protests anywhere in the industrial districts. Factories have been seen operating normal production activities.
Workers said they returned to work reassured by the wage board's agreement on a pay hike and the assurance of its implementation.
The new wages are scheduled to take effect from December, and workers will receive the increased pay from January, according to representatives of the wage board panel.
"We do not want any disturbance; we want peace. We want to work in a peaceful environment and live well with our families," a female garment worker in Gazipur said after returning to work on Sunday.
Amjad Hossain, head of the Gazipur unit of industrial police, said the overall situation in his area was normal.
"Workers returned and work is normal as well," he said, adding that appropriate measures have been taken to ensure safety.
