Bangladesh police have used batons and tear gas to disperse thousands of garment workers protesting for higher wages. Violence by thugs allegedly linked to factory owners and political parties, arson, factory vandalism , and attacks on police have all been reported.

Consistent with international standards , Bangladesh authorities should ensure that police use force only when necessary and proportionate, and that those responsible for violence are held accountable.

A garment worker, Toufiq Hossain, died on November 3. A co-worker who had been with him told Human Rights Watch: “We were returning to the factory [after lunch] when Toufiq got caught between protesting workers and men hired to tackle the protest by another garment factory. When I looked back, I saw Toufiq lying on the ground. The hired men had beaten him brutally.”

The striking workers are seeking a monthly wage of 30,000 taka (US$241), up from the 12,500 taka set in 2023.…