Bangladesh garment workers riot over wages

Violent protests rocked the Bangladesh capital Dhaka as thousands of garment workers took to the streets yesterday, with police reporting widespread looting and vandalism.

The workers were protesting against a government-backed pay increase that failed to meet their demands for a complete overhaul of the monthly minimum wage.

Violence erupted in multiple locations across the capital, police said, forcing factories to close as riot police struggled to disperse crowds with baton charges and tear gas.

At least 5,000 workers flooded into central Dhaka's up-market Gulshan area, a popular shopping district where many embassies and foreign aid groups have their offices.

Gulshan police chief Nural Alam said groups of protesters smashed shop windows, looted goods and set buildings on fire.

"We had to deploy hundreds of riot police; we have arrested some of the protesters,"Mr Alam said.

In nearby Mohokhali district, around 3,000 workers took to the streets, blocking a flyover and triggering clashes with police who said factories had been stoned.

"The protests began very fast but we have now brought them under control," local police chief Abdur Rob said, adding that several factories in his area had been seriously damaged.

Thousands of workers also blocked the city's main Tejgaon link road. Police said they pulled down steel gates protecting nearby garment factories, smashed windows and machinery and vandalised cars.

On Tuesday, the government said it would raise the minimum monthly wage for garment workers from 1,662 taka - the lowest industry salary worldwide - to 3,000 taka (€33). Some unions had demanded 5,000 taka.