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Monday | November 02, 2026 | Dhaka

PM directs action to protect lives, industries

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:02 AM, 02 November 2026

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for heightened vigilance to prevent further unrest in the country’s garment sector, directing all concerned to ensure the smooth operation of factories and industries and protect people’s lives and property.

He also instructed the authorities to take appropriate measures to maintain public safety and restore stability amid demonstrations by garment workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 and clashes with police in several areas.

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury disclosed the Prime Minister’s instructions while speaking to reporters after a meeting with him at the Secretariat on Sunday night.

“The Prime Minister said factories and industries must operate properly and the lives and property of people must remain safe.

He asked everyone to stay alert and take appropriate measures in this regard,” the minister said.

He said the meeting reviewed the overall situation surrounding the workers’ movement and the clashes between garment workers and police at different locations.

Ariful Haque, who also serves as expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister, said the discussion covered public security and measures to restore stability.

He alleged that vested interests were conspiring to create instability ahead of December and undermine the government.

“We discussed the issue and how to deal with those involved in such conspiracies,” he said.

The minister further alleged that some people were using political parties and various organisations, including those linked to workers, to pursue conspiracies against the government.

“InshaAllah, we will deal with this politically,” he said.
The meeting began at 6:00pm at the Cabinet Division conference room of the Secretariat.

Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin and Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Chief Coordinator Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, MP, among others, attended the meeting.

The emergency meeting was convened against the backdrop of escalating unrest in the country’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector.

On Sunday, garment workers staged demonstrations and blocked roads in Dhaka, Ashulia and Gazipur, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000. The protests disrupted traffic and led to clashes with police and incidents of vandalism.

At least 20 people, including four to five police personnel, were injured in sporadic clashes between police and RMG workers in Mirpur in the capital.