On 2023‑09‑30, a wave of unrest rolled through Ashulia, a suburb of Dhaka that hosts a dense cluster of garment factories. Dozens of factories were forced to suspend operations as workers, long accustomed to low pay, began to demand change. The sector, which employs roughly four million people across about four thousand registered factories, is the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy, accounting for more than eighty percent of the country’s export earnings.
The following day, 2023‑10‑01, the protests spread to Dhaka and Gazipur. Workers blocked major thoroughfares, turning the city’s arteries into impromptu barricades. Police responded with tear gas, a tactic that has become a familiar sight in the country’s labor disputes. The government, recognizing the urgency, announced a wage board the same day to review wages in the garment sector.
Dozens of garment workers in Bangladesh clashed with police in the capital Dhaka as they protested against low pay and the rising cost of living. The textile industry is the backbone of the country’s economy. https://t.co/9rXDQ6mSx4
The newly formed wage board is a six‑member panel: two representatives from workers, two from employers, one government representative, and a neutral member. Its mandate is to examine whether the current minimum monthly wage of 12,500 taka is adequate in the face of soaring living costs. The board’s existence signals a willingness to engage, but it also underscores the depth of the crisis.
The violence prompted the deployment of five BGB platoons—Border Guard Bangladesh units—to restore order.
In 2024‑06, the unrest intensified. Garment workers in Dhaka and Gazipur staged violent protests demanding a minimum wage of 30,000 taka—roughly ₹23,000—more than double the existing rate. The protests were not merely symbolic; they involved direct action: workers blocked roads, clashed with police, and in one incident, a police vehicle was torched. The violence prompted the deployment of five BGB platoons—Border Guard Bangladesh units—to restore order.
The clashes on 2024‑06 left a trail of damage and detentions. Nineteen people were arrested for their roles in the violence, including the burning of the police vehicle and attacks on police personnel. Hasan Mohammad Nasher Rikabdar, a spokesperson for the police, noted that multiple cases would be filed against those involved. The protests also forced the shutdown of more than eighty factories, disrupting the livelihoods of thousands.
Despite the turmoil, the garment sector remains a powerhouse. In the 2025‑26 financial year, exports reached USD 38.70 billion, reaching over 150 countries and feeding major Western brands. Yet the sector’s success has not translated into better wages for its workers. The stark contrast between the industry’s global reach and the modest pay of its labor force fuels the current crisis.
The protests have had a tangible human impact. By 2026‑11‑01, 529 factories had shut down, affecting 987,190 workers. The cost of living has surged far beyond incomes. Mahin Hossain, a garment worker, laments, "The cost of living has increased far beyond our incomes. After paying rent, there is very little left for food, our children’s education and other essential expenses. Many are finding it almost impossible to support their families."
The protests continue, and the wage board’s deliberations are ongoing. The government’s willingness to engage through a structured panel offers a glimmer of hope, but the immediate needs of workers—adequate pay to cover basic expenses—remain unmet. As Bangladesh’s garment industry continues to supply the world, the question persists: can the sector’s economic power translate into a livable wage for the millions who stitch its future?