New Delhi is closely watching the ongoing unrest and garment workers’ protests in Bangladesh, a Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.
India aims to maintain a “positive, forward-looking, and constructive relationship” with its neighbor, even as thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers continue their demand for a significant wage hike.
The protests, now in their fourth day, have seen workers clash with police in industrial areas like Dhaka’s Mirpur and Gazipur. Despite some factories attempting to resume operations, tensions have flared, leading to police deployment and the use of tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators. Workers are demanding their minimum monthly wage be raised from BDT 12,500 to BDT 30,000.
To ensure law and order, 12 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed in affected regions. The BGB is also utilizing drones and body-worn cameras for surveillance and to ensure transparency in their operations. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Home Minister, Salahuddin Ahmed, has alleged that former Awami League government-linked industrialists are instigating the unrest, aiming to destabilize the country.
Regarding bilateral matters, the MEA reiterated that discussions on shared water resources, including the Ganga, will continue through established mechanisms like the Joint Rivers Commission. India has also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for a visit, signaling a continued commitment to high-level diplomatic engagement.