Police fired teargas shells and used sound grenades to disperse garment factory workers who blocked Dhaka's Mirpur area this morning demanding a hike in their wages

Nearly 300 garment factories were shut amid lingering protests by workers in Gazipur and Ashulia today to press home their demand for an increase in the minimum wage, according to industrial police.

Amid worker protests in and around the capital for pay hikes, factory owners yesterday said they will come to a middle ground with labour rights representatives while deciding the minimum wage.

Members of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) will implement the new wage structure for their workers from December this year as per the recommendation of the government-formed wage board, said the trade body yesterday.