Less than nine months after coming to power, the government is facing a major wave of protests. Garment workers have taken to the streets to demand a minimum wage of BDT 30,000, along with various other demands. The capital city of Dhaka and its surrounding areas have become volatile due to the ongoing movement over the past few days. Law enforcement agencies are struggling to keep the situation under control.

Most recently, on Monday (November 2), garment workers held demonstrations and blockaded roads in various areas, including Dhaka, Gazipur, and Narayanganj. Continuing the trend of the past few days, clashes, chases, and counter-chases broke out between police and workers during the protests on Monday. Incidents of vehicle vandalism and arson—targeting police vehicles and other transport—were also reported in several places.

Although the government has assured a quick resolution to the issue, there are still no signs of the agitation abating. Under the circumstances, several hundred garment factories in and around Dhaka have declared holidays. Arrests and police crackdowns are also taking place on a large scale. The government claims that activists from the banned Awami League and its affiliate organizations have infiltrated the demonstrations, and that opposition parties are inciting the protests.

Amid the emerging situation, key government officials—including Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad and Labor Minister Ariful Huq Choudhury—held separate meetings with garment factory owners and worker representatives at the Secretariat on Monday.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad assured that the Wage Board, formed to fix the minimum wage for garment workers, will begin its work swiftly. He stated that the board was formed in response to the workers' demands. The board was constituted on Sunday morning, and its first meeting was expected as early as Monday, or very soon.

Earlier, on Sunday (November 1), amid the ongoing protests for a minimum wage, the government constituted the Wage Board. Late that night, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held an emergency meeting with the ministers concerned and instructed them to bring the situation under control.

However, the situation has shown no signs of returning to normal, even after the head of government appealed to the workers to withdraw from the demonstrations and return to work. Instead, protests spread across various locations on Monday, just as they had on Sunday. Questions now remain over whether the workers will calm down following the Home Minister’s assurances.

How the Day Unfolded on Monday
Following Sunday’s violent protests, a heavy police presence was visible at various points in Dhaka's Mirpur area starting early Monday morning. Many garment workers were seen gathering in small groups at Mirpur-10, Pallabi, Kafrul, and surrounding areas, preparing to stage demonstrations.

At around 9:15 AM, workers attempted to block the roads at Mirpur-10, leading to clashes and counter-chases with the police. As workers tried to take to the streets, police fired tear gas shells to disperse them. Several individuals, including a few protesters, were detained from the spot.

Around the same time, when workers gathered on the streets in Mirpur-11 and 12, police dispersed them. In response to the garment workers' protests, leaders and activists of the ruling BNP and its associate organizations held rallies on the streets of Mirpur.

Mohidul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, stated that five cases have been filed so far in connection with the clashes, vandalism, and arson during Sunday's protests in Mirpur. At least 29 people have been detained in connection with these incidents as of Monday.

Outside Dhaka, garment workers blockaded the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Gazipur and protested from early morning. BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) personnel were deployed alongside police in Gazipur to quell the protests.

Law enforcement officers detonated several sound grenades to disperse the crowds, halting traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway for several hours.

By the afternoon, Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Amjad Hossain stated that although protests had continued since the morning, the situation had normalized by late afternoon.

The garment workers' agitation also spread to neighboring Narayanganj. On Monday afternoon, workers took to the streets and blocked the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road near the Shibu Market area. The blockade halted traffic and caused immense public suffering. Police cleared the road after nearly four hours, allowing traffic to resume.

In Ashulia, workers blockaded roads and staged demonstrations, during which a covered van was set on fire.

Factory Holidays Declared, Numerous Arrests Made
In Dhaka's Mirpur-11 area, several garment factories stand side by side. At around 9:30 AM, the main gates of every factory were locked. Holiday notices posted outside read: "Due to unavoidable circumstances, the factory is declared closed today, November 2, 2026."

Staff members on duty at the gates of several factories stated that authorities declared a holiday on Monday following Sunday’s violence.

Although factories in Mirpur were closed, workers were seen gathering nearby early in the morning. However, many were dispersed by police patrols and counter-rallies organized by local ruling BNP activists.

While factories in the Mirpur, Pallabi, and Kafrul areas were closed, a few garment factories in the Kalyanpur area remained open, where conditions were relatively normal.

Police remained vigilant across various streets in Mirpur from the morning, detaining several individuals from places including the Mirpur-10 roundabout.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Mohidul Islam told journalists that those creating instability in garment factories would be brought to justice, adding that at least 29 people had been detained between Sunday night and Monday.

Due to the unrest, around 150 factories in the Gazipur region were also closed on Monday.

Series of Meetings at the Secretariat
Following the emergency meeting with the Prime Minister on Sunday night, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad, Labor Minister Ariful Huq Choudhury, Prime Minister's Adviser Mahdi Amin, and several other officials met with garment factory owners at the Secretariat on Monday morning.

Briefing the press after the meeting, the Home Minister stated that the government has information and evidence indicating that politically affiliated factory owners—some of whom previously served as MPs, ministers, or state ministers under the banned organization—were driving the unrest.

He added that those behind the agitation during ongoing discussions regarding the Wage Board have been identified, warning that strict legal action will be taken against those engaging in anti-national activities and causing instability under the guise of a labor movement.

Following the meeting with factory owners, the government delegation met with various labor union representatives in the afternoon. Labor leader and Wage Board member Babul Akhter briefed reporters on behalf of the unions.

Akhter claimed that instigators posing as workers were entering factories to destabilize the environment, driving workers to the streets. He urged workers to return to work, refrain from succumbing to provocation, and warned that trade unions would not support those who fall into trouble by engaging in unauthorized actions.

Labor leaders at the meeting also highlighted that the lack of effective trade unions in garment factories has made the movement difficult to manage, allowing third parties to exploit the situation.