Production at over 100 garment factories in several parts of the district was suspended for a day on Sunday following labour unrest.
Police said at least people were injured in sporadic clashes between garment workers and cops in several places in Sadar, Kaliakoir and Sreepur upazilas over a pay hike.
Quoting witnesses, police said the workers of the garment factories went on the work abstention in the morning and took to the street demanding that their minimum wage be fixed at Tk 8,000.
During the demonstrations, they engaged in clashes with the law enforcers in a number of places in the districts.
The workers of ‘Square Fashion’ in Bhogra area vandalised the factory and torched the main gate in the morning.
Being informed, police rushed in and tried to disperse them, triggering a clash.
A chase and counter chase took place during the melee that left some people injured.
Earlier, the workers of Aymon, Devine and Apex garment factories in Palli Bidyut area in Kaliakor blocked Dhaka-Tangail highway around 9am demanding that their minimum wage be fixed at Tk 8,000, disrupting traffic on the busy road for several hours.
On information, police rushed in and charged baton and lobbed teargas shells to disperse them.
Angered by the police action, the workers pelted brick chips, triggering a clash that left 20 people injured.
The workers of Fakharuddin Composite, Aman Tex, Meghna in Masterbari area, Gargaria in Sreepur upazila and Tinsharak and Laxmipura areas in Sadar upazila took to Dhaka-Mymensingh highway on the same demand.
Chases and counter chases took place in the area, leaving 10 people injured.
At one stage, the protesters vandalised some vehicles and factories in these areas.
Besides, some agitating workers vandalised several garment factories, including Jamuna Denim of Jamuna Group, and set fire to its godown in the city.
Being informed, police rushed in and doused the flame with the help of locals after half an hour.
Meanwhile, the workers of different garment factories in Itahata, Naujor, Kashimpur, Tongi BSCIC area took to the street and staged demonstrations to press home their demand.
When police tried to disperse them, a chase and counter chase took place in the area. At least 20 people were injured in police action during the incident.
The unruly garment workers also stormed into ‘Elite Garment’ at signboard in the evening and set fire to four vehicles kept on the factory premises.
Following the violent demonstrations by the workers, the authorities of over 100 garment factories shut their factories for the day to avert further trouble.
Source: UNBConnect