2 factories torched, 4 vandalised in Gazipur

Workers continue agitation vandalising factories along Dhaka-Mymensingh highway

Workers of several garments factories on Friday morning set fire to two factories and vandalised four others in Gazipur to protest the Savar building collapse that killed over 300 people.

They were advancing toward Mymensingh at the time of filing this report at 6:00pm with the intent to vandalise more garment factories along the highway.

The unruly workers attacked four garment factories at about 4:30pm with bamboo sticks and brick chips at the MC Bazaar area in Shripur upazila of Gazipur.

They tore down the main gate of Mir Ceramic Industries, and vandalised an ATM booth of AB Bank, reports our Gazipur correspondent.

The also torched at least five vehicles on the streets during the attacks.
Over 3,000 workers took part in the attack.

Police were not seen to take measure to bring the situation under control, said eye witnesses.

The workers also blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway from noon demanding death penalty to owners of the collapsed building and the garments factories it housed, said Iqbal Hossain, sergeant of Naojore Highway Police Station.

Earlier, the fire at two garment factories in Gazipur was doused around 1:00pm after fire fighters took the situation under control.

Meanwhile, at least 10 people were injured as garment workers clashed with law enforcers in Narayanganj on Friday, reports our correspondent in the district.

The clash ensued when police tried to disperse the stick-wielding workers who vandalised five factories at Panchabati BISIC Industrial Area in Fatullah around 10:00am, said Akhter Hossain, officer-in-charge of Fatullah Police Station.

Police rounded up 22 workers in connection with the vandalism, he added.

Source: The Daily Star