BANGLADESH’S GARMENT INDUSTRY GRIPPED BY FOUR-DAY LABOUR UPRISING AS WAGE ANGER PARALYSES NEARLY 1,000 FACTORIES
November 3, 2026
Violent protests by garment workers demanding higher wages have disrupted Bangladesh's crucial readymade garment industry for a fourth consecutive day, forcing nearly 1,000 factories to suspend operations and prompting the deployment of additional paramilitary forces. The unrest, which began on October 31, has spread across Dhaka and major industrial centres, including Gazipur, Ashulia, Mirpur, Narayanganj and Mymensingh.
The workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka (approximately ₹23,000), more than double the existing minimum wage of 12,500 taka. They argue that rising costs of food, housing, transportation and healthcare have significantly eroded their purchasing power, while their earnings have failed to keep pace with inflation. The recent salary increase for government employees has further intensified perceptions of economic inequality.
According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), another 300 factories were forced to close following fresh violence, taking the total number of affected establishments to nearly 1,000. Clashes between protesters and police have resulted in injuries, with security personnel using tear gas, batons and sound grenades to disperse demonstrators. Protesters have reportedly retaliated by throwing bricks and stones, blocking major roads and setting discarded tyres on fire.
The interim government has accused former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her supporters of exploiting the labour unrest to destabilise the administration. Prime Minister's Information Affairs Adviser Zahedur Rahman alleged that Hasina was behind the disturbances and claimed that sabotage could continue as long as she remained politically active. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed also accused certain garment factory owners associated with the Awami League of fuelling the protests. Labour and Employment Adviser Mahdi Amin separately alleged that political elements had infiltrated the workers' movement. These accusations have not been independently established.
Authorities have arrested more than 100 people in connection with the violence, including approximately 50 individuals reportedly linked to Awami League politics. The Border Guard Bangladesh has deployed additional personnel, including 12 platoons in Gazipur and two in Narayanganj, while monitoring operations have been strengthened through drones and body-worn cameras.
The crisis threatens an industry that employs approximately four million people and contributes more than 80 per cent of Bangladesh's export earnings. As the world's second-largest garment exporter after China, Bangladesh supplies major international brands, including H&M, Zara and Gap. Manufacturers have warned that prolonged factory closures during the peak production season for spring and summer orders could delay international shipments, damage buyer confidence and result in order cancellations.
In response to the wage dispute, the government constituted a six-member minimum wage board on Sunday to review workers' salaries and recommend a revised pay structure. However, the board had not held its first meeting as the protests continued.
The escalating confrontation exposes the growing economic tensions within Bangladesh's export-dependent garment sector, where millions of workers are demanding wages that reflect the rising cost of living, while manufacturers face mounting production costs and international competition. With industrial operations disrupted and political accusations intensifying, the government's ability to resolve the wage dispute has become a major test for Bangladesh's interim administration.
