12 RMG units shut in Gazipur, 70 hurt as workers clash with cops in Savar, Narayanganj
Protesters hurl brick chips at cops as law enforcers try to free the Dhaka-Narayanganj link road from RMG workers demanding a minimum monthly salary of Tk 8000. Photo: Palash Khan
The government on Thursday deployed paramilitary forces in Gazipur as labour unrest in the garment sector continues for almost a week.
The garment makers had to suspend production at more than 12 factories at Jirani, Gazipur in the face of agitation that entered the sixth day on Thursday.
The readymade garment workers began the demonstrations on Saturday demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 8,000.
At least 20 workers were injured on Thursday as they clashed with police in Jirabo area of Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital.
Police used batons and rubber bullets to disperse the agitators.
Production at hundreds of garment factories in the capital and on its outskirts had remained suspended since Saturday due to the unrest.
GAZIPUR
The members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to maintain the law and order in the industrial area, said Nurul Islam, deputy commissioner of Gazipur.
Three platoons of the paramilitary forces started patrolling the area since 6:00am alongside police, the DC told The Daily Star adding the BGB deployment followed a request from the industrial police.
No untoward situation took place since morning following the deployment of BGB, reports our Gazipur correspondent.
SAVAR
The clash ensued at Jirabo when over 1,200 workers of T Design and Mascot Garment tried to block Dhaka-Tangail highway around 10:30am to press home their demand.
The workers hurled brick chips at the law enforcers.
In retaliation, police charged batons and fired several rounds of rubber bullets at them, leaving at least 20 workers injured, said Md Moniruzzaman, deputy director of Savar Industrial Police.
In another incident, around 4000 workers of several factories blocked Dhaka-Tangail highway at Jirani, adjacent to Ashulia, for half an hour from around 8:30am.
The workers took to the streets around 8:00am when they came to know that the authorities suspend production of their factories for Thursday without informing them.
On information, law enforcers dispersed the workers from the highway using truncheons.
No injury was reported in the incident, reports our Savar correspondent.
Fearing violence, the authorities of 12 nearby factories also suspend their production for today.
Source: The Daily Star
