Thousands of labourers walked out of factory floors across the country in days-long protests that disrupted the $30 billion industry - and saw police fire rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators. One worker was killed and more than 50 injured in clashes in Ashulia, a key industrial town outside Dhaka where clothes are sewn for retail giants H&M, Walmart and many others.
Police say thousands of factory workers accused of looting and vandalism during the protests have been fired, but unions have accused the industry of intimidation and a crackdown. "So far the factories have dismissed 4,899 workers due to the unrest," a senior police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.