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Thursday | November 05, 2026 | Dhaka

5 held as workers clash with cop in Naryanganj

 Staff Correspondent
 Published: 12:02 AM, 05 November 2026

Garment workers in Fatullah, Narayanganj, clashed with police for the third consecutive day on Wednesday while protesting for higher wages and the implementation of their five-point demands, prompting law enforcers to fire tear gas shells, rubber bullets and sound grenades to disperse them.

Police arrested five people during the clashes, while an 18-year-old garment worker, identified as Jannat, fell ill after being exposed to tear gas.

The unrest began around 10am when workers from Shibu Market, Kath-erpool and nearby industrial areas attempted to move towards the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road to stage a blockade. Police tried to stop them, triggering a series of chases and counter-chases.

At one stage, workers from Metro Garments in Kath-erpool attempted to take positions on the road, prompting police to fire tear gas and sound grenades. The protesters were eventually dispersed, and traffic movement returned to normal.

According to local sources, workers from several factories initially joined their workplaces as usual but later stopped working and took to the streets.

Local shopkeeper Jamal Mia said workers had gathered in the area before getting into an altercation with local BNP leaders and activists. Police arrived shortly afterwards, and the situation escalated into clashes.

However, protesting workers alleged that they had been demonstrating peacefully when BNP leaders arrived and assaulted them. Police subsequently launched an operation against the protesters, they claimed.

Industrial Police Superintendent Abdullah Al Mamun said workers had been attempting to block the road since morning.

“They have been dispersed, and the situation is now under control,” he said, adding that additional police personnel and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members had been deployed to prevent further unrest.

Additional Police Superintendent (Crime) of Narayanganj Tarek Al Mehdi said five people had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Earlier, garment workers blocked the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road on Monday and Tuesday over the same demands.

Tuesday’s protest also triggered clashes and chases between workers and police, leaving at least 30 people injured, including around 10 police personnel. Four workers were detained.

The workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000, rationing facilities in all garment factories, trade union rights, justice for the killing of worker Amjad Hossain Kamal and other deceased workers, and an end to arbitrary layoffs through full implementation of labour laws.