Violent protests in southeastern Bangladesh that first began at a Korean clothing factory have claimed three lives and left 250 others injured.

Local media and the Associated Press say that tens of thousands of workers in Chittagong and capital Dhaka launched violent protests demanding implementation of a higher minimum wage and clashed with the police.

The protests first began at a plant of a South Korean clothing manufacturer, as the workers there began to smash plant supplies on Saturday. The commotion spread to other companies.

The garment manufacturer ‘Youngone’ closed 17 of its plants in the Chittagong Export Processing Zone and Dhaka where 36-thousand local workers are employed.

The South Korean ambassador to the country says the ten Korean employees of the company and 150 Korean residents in Chittagong are all safe.