Most garment factories in Gazipur, Mirpur and Narayanganj resumed production on Sunday, 8 November 2026, after authorities accepted the recommendations of the minimum wage board, while 34 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh were deployed across the industrial areas today as the board holds its second meeting.

Workers returned to factories in an orderly manner on Sunday, with production resuming at plants in Konabari, Shafipur, Palli Bidyut, Chandra, Basan Road, Tongi, Salna, Bhabanipur and Banglabazar in Gazipur, as well as in Mirpur and Narayanganj. The situation was largely calm, according to reports from the factory areas.

The resumption came after weeks of unrest in the garment sector. Workers have been demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000, up from the current Tk12,500, and the protests escalated in late October and early November, with factory closures and clashes in several industrial areas.

Thirty-four platoons deployed today

Despite the return to work, security remains tight. Thirty-four platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh have been deployed today in industrial areas in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj, the Border Guard's headquarters confirmed.

In Dhaka, the deployments cover Savar, Ashulia and Mirpur. In Narayanganj, they cover Shibu Market, Jalkuri, the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation industrial estate, Chashara, Kanchpur and Shimrail. In Gazipur, they cover Chandra, Kaliakair, Palli Bidyut, Mouchak, Ambagan Kata, Naojor, Bhogra Bypass, Gachha and Salna.

Border Guard Bangladesh public relations officer Md Shariful Islam said the force was deployed amid ongoing workers' unrest. Authorities have said they expect some groups to try to exploit the situation, and the deployments are intended to keep the industrial areas secure while production resumes.

The number of platoons deployed has been adjusted almost daily as the situation has developed, rising from 12 platoons on 3 November to 24 on 4 November and 33 on 5 November. Today's figure of 34 platoons reflects the continuing concern about unrest even as most factories return to work.

Wage board meets for a second time

The Minimum Wage Board is holding its second meeting today. The six-member board was formed on 1 November to review garment workers' pay, and the government has promised that revised wages will take effect in December and be paid from January 2027, although the new amount has not yet been announced.

The garment industry is Bangladesh's largest export earner, and the wage question has been the central issue in the unrest. Workers say the current minimum of Tk12,500 no longer covers basic living costs, while factory owners have warned about the cost of a large increase.

Today's meeting will be watched closely for any sign of a figure, or a timetable for announcing one. Until then, the combination of resumed production and heavy security shows both sides of the current situation: factories are running again, but the underlying dispute over pay is still unresolved. (The Business Standard, Khaborwala)