Sheikh Md. Belayet Hossain, Reporter || Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice-President Sadiq Kayem has criticised Bangladesh’s minimum monthly wage of Tk 12,500 for garment workers, questioning why workers should bear the consequences of the government’s alleged failure to negotiate better prices with international buyers.He pointed out that Vietnam, one of Bangladesh’s main competitors in the garment industry, offers nearly double the minimum wage yet remains ahead of Bangladesh in garment exports.“If Vietnam can pay nearly double the minimum wage and still outperform Bangladesh in garment exports, why should workers bear the burden of the government’s failure to negotiate with international buyers?” he asked.Kayem said Bangladesh has one of the highest inflation rates in South Asia, making it difficult for garment workers to meet their own and their families’ expenses on a monthly wage of Tk 12,500.Ensuring fair wages for workers is not only a fundamental right but also essential to the future of the country’s garment industry, he said.Government Criticised Over Handling of Labour UnrestThe DUCSU VP alleged that the government had failed to address the wage dispute from the outset. Instead of resolving the issue through negotiations before tensions escalated, authorities resorted to police attacks, assaults and indiscriminate arrests after the protests began, he claimed.He argued that the government’s failure to handle the situation had created an opportunity for the ousted Awami League to exploit the unrest.Calls for Fair Wages Through DialogueReferring to the aspirations of the July movement, Kayem said the movement sought to establish a Bangladesh free from discrimination, where justice would be ensured for students, workers, farmers, the middle class and people from all walks of life.He urged garment owners and worker representatives to sit down with the government and reach an agreement on a dignified wage without further delay.The government, he said, should not use allegations of provocation to deflect criticism of its own failures or ignore workers’ legitimate demands.Only when workers survive can the country survive, Kayem said.