Bangladesh sets up wage board after garment factory closures

Government response and worker demands

Authorities established the board to examine current salaries while urging staff to resume duties. Employees are requesting a monthly minimum of 30,000 taka, which is more than twice the existing rate of 12,500 taka. Workers argue that rising expenses for food and housing have reduced their ability to support families.

Police action during demonstrations

Thousands of protesters blocked roads in Dhaka and Gazipur on Sunday despite the new announcement. Officers used tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds after demonstrators threw bricks at them. A police vehicle and a police box were set on fire during separate incidents.

Impact on national exports

The garment sector employs about four million people and accounts for over 80 percent of export earnings. This industry supplies clothing to many leading Western brands and faces widespread disruption now. The closure of factories threatens the economic stability of this major South Asian nation.