In Bangladesh, thousands of readymade garment workers took to the streets in Dhaka today and resorted to vandalism in protest against the revised minimum wages announced by the government. The workers of several garment factories blocked traffic for nearly two to three hours in the areas of Gulshan 1,2, Banani, Mohakhali and Karwan Bazar area of Dhaka city and stoned several buses, private cars and motorcycles on the road, in addition to vandalising roadside buildings including garment factories. Police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the workers and stop the violence. The government on Thursday had raised the minimum wages to 3,000 taka from the present 1,662 taka. Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain who made the formal announcement of the new wage structure said the new pay structure will take effect from November 1, 2010.Some groups of the garment workers have rejected the government’s announcement and are demanding 5000 taka as minimum pay. Additional police and Rapid action battalion personnel have been deployed in these areas to thwart any untoward situation. Addressing a press conference in the afternoon, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner AKM Shahidul Haque has warned the demonstrating workers that police would show zero tolerance for vandalism of vehicles and destruction of public property.