Many injured in Bangladesh garment industrial unit protest

World News

DHAKA: Police in Bangladesh say thousands of garment workers demanding higher pay are clashing with police for a second day and dozens of people have been hurt. Live television footage showed riot police firing tear
gas as the workers rampaged through the streets building roadblocks with abandoned vehicles and wooden logs. Industrial Police Director Mustafizur Rahman says at least 200 factories closed on Tuesday. He said the angry workers hurled stones at security forces and attacked factories in the industrial towns of Savar and Ashulia outside Dhaka. Rahman said that at least 50 people were reported wounded in the fresh violence after 30 were injured Monday when the clashes started. A government-appointed panel approved a raise to 5,300 takas ($66.25) a month but workers are demanding 8,114 takas ($100) instead. Factory owners have not endorsed it either and argue the proposed wage for an unskilled newcomer would increase their production cost significantly and destroy the industry in a fiercely competitive global market. The Ministry of Labour would have to approve the proposed amount to make it a law. Bangladesh, the world's second-largest garment manufacturing country after China, exports mainly to the United States and Europe. The sector employs about 4 million workers, mostly women. It has come under scrutiny for its often harsh and unsafe conditions after the collapse of a factory building killed more than 1,100 people in April. In another horrific case, a fire last November killed 112 workers. The protests added to chaos from three weeks of sometimes-violent political protests in the South Asian nation. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and 17 allies are enforcing a nationwide strike, to end Wednesday, in which they are pushing a demand to form a caretaker government with people from outside political parties to oversee elections due by early January. Despite disruptions during such strikes, authorities usually keep garment factories open to confirm shipment. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to form an all-party caretaker government to hold the elections and says she would go ahead with the plan even if the main opposition leader doesn't participate.