Bangladesh Forms Wage Board as Garment Protests Continue

Bangladesh formed a six-member wage board on Sunday to review minimum pay for garment workers, but demonstrations continued in Dhaka and nearby industrial areas as employees pressed for higher wages. Workers are seeking a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka, more than double the current 12,500 taka floor. They say rising costs for food, housing, transport and health care have reduced their purchasing power. The board is to determine a new minimum wage; no decision or announcement date was reported. Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury urged workers to return to factories after the board was formed. He said the government had discussed the issue with worker representatives and industry leaders, and warned that prolonged closures and production interruptions could delay export shipments and payments from international buyers. Protests continued on Sunday despite the announcement, with demonstrations reported in Dhaka and Gazipur. Workers blocked roads, disrupting traffic, and clashes with police were reported. Police used tear gas and sound grenades in some areas, according to reports citing police. The specific accounts of violence varied, and some allegations,...