Dhaka, March 25 – A demonstration by garment workers demanding unpaid wages, Eid bonuses, and other benefits escalated into clashes with police near the Secretariat on Tuesday, leaving dozens injured.

The workers attempted to besiege the Secretariat but were met with police resistance, leading to violent confrontations in front of the National Press Club and along the road to the Secretariat, reports Bangla Tribune.

Around 40 people, including both protesters and police officers, sustained injuries. Police used sound grenades and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, causing them to retreat. The clashes also resulted in major traffic disruptions at Paltan Mor, Kadam Fountain, and the High Court intersection.

Shahbagh police station Inspector Sardar Bulbul Ahmed reported that five police officers were injured, with one, Fazle Rabbi, in critical condition and receiving treatment at Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital.

Meanwhile, Raju Ahmed, general secretary of the Garment Textile Workers Federation, stated that 30 to 35 workers were injured in the clashes. He also confirmed that Revolutionary Students’ Union President Dilip Roy was briefly detained but later released.

The protest involved workers from TNZ Apparels, Apparel Plus Eco Ltd, Roar Fashion, Style Craft Garments, and DIRD Composite Textile Ltd. A day prior, employees of TNZ Apparels Ltd and Apparel Plus Eco Ltd had staged a sit-in protest in front of Srom Bhaban for the second consecutive day, continuing their demonstration late into the evening.

On the third day of their movement, the workers were scheduled to hold another sit-in protest at Srom Bhaban starting from 10 AM.