Protests by readymade garment (RMG) workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000 spread to Narayanganj on Monday, while clashes between workers and law enforcers in Savar and Gazipur left several vehicles vandalised and torched.
Workers blocked a major road in Narayanganj for around two and a half hours, while fresh demonstrations in Dhaka, Savar and Gazipur disrupted traffic and production at several factories.
In Gazipur, workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways from around 7am, bringing traffic to a standstill and causing severe congestion.
In the Naojor area of the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, protesters set fire to a police covered van and vandalised two other police vehicles.
Two on-duty members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were injured by brickbats hurled by workers in Kaliakair.
The government deployed 10 platoons of BGB in Gazipur to maintain law and order amid the unrest.
Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nurul Karim Bhuiyan said 21 executive magistrates were working alongside law enforcement agencies to control the situation.
He said precautionary measures had been taken to protect public and state property and prevent damage to lives and property.
Workers also demonstrated in Chandra, Palli Bidyut and Mouchak, setting fire to wooden logs and rubbish on the highway. Several factories, including Eco Garments in Chandra, declared holidays to avoid further unrest.
In Ashulia, clashes between workers and police broke out in the Narsinghapur and Nischintapur areas along the Abdullahpur-Baipail road from around 10am.
Workers gathered in front of an Ananta Group factory before moving towards a Ha-Meem Group factory, where they reportedly hurled brickbats.
Police fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the protesters. Two people were detained following a chase and counter-chase in Narsinghapur around 1pm.
Earlier, workers set fire to a garment factory's covered van in Narsinghapur. Local residents brought the fire under control.
The unrest also spread to Ulail in Savar, where workers attempted to block the Dhaka-Aricha Highway around noon. Police intervened, triggering intermittent clashes and chase-counter-chase incidents.
Tension also prevailed in Hemayetpur near the Padma intersection, where police dispersed workers attempting to gather.
In Mirpur, workers gathered in the Mirpur-14 area around 9am and attempted to march towards the Mirpur-10 roundabout.
Police chased them away and fired tear gas shells after workers tried to push through a barricade. The protesters subsequently dispersed and returned to their factories.
Additional police personnel were deployed in Mirpur-10, 11, 12 and 14 following clashes on Sunday.
Traffic movement in Mirpur was reported to be normal, with law enforcers remaining on high alert.
The protests continued despite the government's formation of a wage board to address workers' demands. Workers are seeking an increase in the minimum monthly wage from the current Tk12,500 to Tk30,000.
