Ashulia protests turn violent: Teargas, sound grenade fired

Fresh violence broke out in the Ashulia industrial zone of Savar on Monday, (November 2) as protesting readymade garment (RMG) workers clashed with police, blockaded roads, and set fire to a covered van.

The clashes erupted after workers from several factories ceased work on Monday morning and took to the streets to demonstrate. As protesters attempted to advance, violent confrontations ensued with law enforcement, prompting police to fire tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the crowds.

Ashulia Industrial Police Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mominul Islam Bhuiyan confirmed that additional police forces have been deployed across the area to contain the situation.

He added that agitated workers attacked a factory belonging to Artistic Design Limited, pelting the establishment with brickbats. Meanwhile, management at the nearby Sharmin Group announced a temporary shutdown of their factory premises due to security concerns.

The agitation in Ashulia reflects wider unrest across the capital's periphery, where garment workers have been protesting for several consecutive days to demand a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.

In Gazipur's Kaliakair upazila, workers blockaded the Dhaka-Tangail highway for the fourth straight day on Monday. Protesters occupied key intersections including Chandra, Pallibidyut, Harinhati, and Sofipur, bringing vehicular movement to a complete standstill on the major highway.

The ongoing unrest follows similar violent demonstrations in Mirpur, Dhaka, where clashes previously erupted between workers and security forces. Although the government recently formed a minimum wage board to address salary structures, discontent remains high across major industrial belts.

Authorities across numerous garment units in the district have declared emergency closures, while law enforcement personnel continue to detain key instigators to maintain order.

-SA