130 factories shut in Bangladesh amid labor protest

Dhaka: A total of 130 readymade garment (RMG) factories in two major industrial hubs, Savar and Ashulia, on the outskirts of Bangladesh capital Dhaka, have suspended operations for an indefinite period due to ongoing worker protests for higher wages.
Mohammad Sarwar Alam, a superintendent of Industrial Police, told journalists Saturday that a section of workers has still been demanding a minimum monthly wage of 23,000 taka (209 U.S. dollars).
Workers continued their protests, rejecting the government’s announcement of a 56 percent wage increase Tuesday.
The protests have reportedly led to vandalism of cars and factories, with clashes between police and workers erupting in and around Dhaka.
A female garment worker was killed in a clash between police and workers demonstrating for a pay hike in Gazipur’s Konabari area on the outskirts of Dhaka on Wednesday.
Paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh soldiers have been deployed in major industrial zones in and around Dhaka.