Mirpur residents trapped in fear as 3-day labour clashes paralyze life

Panic and high tension enveloped greater Mirpur on Tuesday (November 3) as violent clashes between readymade garment workers demanding a 30,000 BDT minimum wage and law enforcement agencies entered a third consecutive day, leaving residents living in fear.

Repeated clashes, chases, and counter-chases between police and demonstrating workers transformed key intersections—including Mirpur 10, 2, 11, and 14—into battlefields, forcing locals to remain indoors and halting routine activities.

Residents near the Purabi area reported waking to the sound of sound grenades and the sting of tear gas canisters, describing the neighborhood as resembling a war zone since Sunday.

Local shopkeepers closed down commercial establishments along main thoroughfares and narrow alleys under law enforcement directives, while parents expressed apprehension over taking children to school.

Police deployed tear gas and sound grenades on Tuesday morning to disperse crowds after workers launched stone-pelting attacks on police lines, though the situation gradually normalized after midday.

The escalation follows violent incidents on Sunday, during which protesters set fire to a police vehicle, prompting strict law enforcement action on Monday to prevent demonstrators from occupying primary roads.

Police sources confirmed on Tuesday that six individuals were arrested on Monday (November 2) for provoking chaos, while 11 separate cases have been filed against more than 10,000 unidentified individuals in connection with the three days of unrest across Mirpur.



-EM