Garment factory workers took to the streets in the capital’s Mirpur-10 intersection on Sunday morning, staging a fierce protest to demand a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000. The demonstration severely disrupted traffic flow across the key commercial and residential hub, prompting authorities to temporarily shut down the entrance gate of the Mirpur-10 metro rail station.
According to witnesses and law enforcement officials, workers from several apparel factories in and around Mirpur gathered early in the morning and blocked the busy intersection. The sudden blockade caused immense suffering for commuters and office-goers.
A Prothom Alo administration department official reported arriving at the Mirpur-10 station shortly before 11:00 AM, only to find the gates shuttered due to the unrest. Commuters were forced to walk to nearby stations, such as Kazipara, to board metro trains.
Mirpur Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Saifuzzaman stated that police forces were promptly dispatched to the scene to maintain order and bring the situation under control.
The protest in Mirpur coincides with similar widespread labor unrest in neighboring industrial zones like Gazipur, where workers have also blocked major highways—such as the Dhaka-Tangail highway—pressing for the same wage demands. Labor leaders and industry insiders note that tensions have persisted as workers call for immediate adjustments to combat the rising cost of living, even as authorities work to address ongoing wage board considerations.
