, Nov. 1 -- The authorities of around 150 garment factories in Ashulia and Gazipur declared holiday on Sunday as workers' protests demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 turned violent, disrupting industrial operations and traffic.

The protests spread across several industrial areas in Dhaka and Gazipur, with workers taking to the streets to press for higher wages and allowances and an end to blacklisting.

Amid the unrest, authorities announced the closure of more than 100 garment factories in Gazipur, particularly along the stretch from Konabari to Chandra Palli Bidyut, to prevent further violence.

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, Superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police-2 said more than 100 factories in the area declared holiday to ...