Workers protests erupt across Bangladesh
Featured image: garment workers block Dhaka-Narayanganj road. Source: The Daily Star
Bangladeshi media has reported over the past week on several workers protests across the country. The situation for the people and the working class has not improved after the ousting of Sheikh Hasina and the instauration of Muhammad Yunus government, even tough he portrayed himself as a carrier of a radical change. The layoffs, nonpayments and closures of garment factories have been very common since August 2024 and every week there are new workers protests.
In that sense over the past week erupted new protests. Garment workers staged a protest on Wednesday 19th of February demanding the reinstatement of dismissed workers, withdrawal of repressive cases, and the reopening of their factory. Several hundred workers blocked the Dhaka-Narayanganj road for hours and caused severe disruptions on the traffic. This was the second such protest in three days, as workers had previously blocked key roads in Chashara for three hours on Monday. These protests erupted after that some workers protested inside the factory demanding the payment of their wages and were accused by the police on charges of vandalism. Workers from two garment factories also protested in Savar on Saturday 22nd of February blocking regional roads to demand their unpaid wages and the reopening of their factories.
Outsourced workers also blocked the roads in Dhaka demanding the regularization of jobs for all employees working under outsourcing projects in government and autonomous institutions on Saturday 22nd of February. As they were firm in their demands and stated that they would not leave the roads, the police was deployed and harshly attacked them using water cannons and sound grenades, resulting in two injured workers.
The Muhammad Yunus government faces these protests as it was usual with the previous government: with repression and disregarding about the concerns and needs of the Bangladeshi people and working class. By their side, the workers are not bending, but confronting the situation and rise.
