Violent Protests In Bangladesh Lead To Closure Of Garment Factories

Bangladesh has seen hundreds of garment factories cease operations due to violent protests where workers are demanding a nearly threefold increase in their wages, according to police reports on Thursday. The country's 3,500 garment factories play a vital role in Bangladesh's economy, accounting for approximately 85 percent of the nation's annual exports, valued at $55 billion. These factories supply major Western brands, including Adidas, Gap, H&M, and Levi Strauss. However, the majority of the sector's four million employees, mostly women, endure challenging working conditions with monthly wages that begin at 8,300 taka ($75). The protests, which began over the weekend, have resulted in workers ransacking dozens of factories across Gazipur and other industrial areas near the capital, Dhaka. Gazipur police chief Sarwar Alam revealed that more than 250 garment factories had been closed, with up to 50 factories being vandalized and several set on fire. Ashulia's deputy police chief, Mahmud Naser, stated that at least 50 "very large factories" in his industrial town, employing over 15,000 workers, had also ceased operations. Since the onset of the protests, police data indicates that two workers have lost their lives, and dozens have sustained injuries. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), representing factory owners, has offered a 25 percent wage increase. However, this falls considerably short of the protest campaign's demand for a monthly wage of 23,000 taka ($209). In their push for higher wages, several thousand workers have blocked roads in the vicinity of Dhaka, emphasizing the importance of their demands. The situation continues to develop, raising concerns about the labor conditions in Bangladesh's crucial garment industry.