Bangladesh News

At least 100 garment workers were injured yesterday when police clubbed a procession demanding salary and Eid bonus around the EPZ area under Ashulia thana in Savar.

The agitating workers vandalised a dozen vehicles at Nabinagar and Kaliakoir bus stations and barricaded the Nabinagar-Kaliakoir highway for two hours.

The clashes between the workers and law enforcers left several policemen injured while a number of commuters were also injured being caught in the middle of the clash.

The workers said the owners of around 10 garment factories had closed their production units several days back without paying salary and Eid bonus.

The affected employees of the factories said the owners promised to pay the dues yesterday, but no responsible officials of the factories were found when they showed up at their workplaces.

The workers from several factories around the EPZ area brought out a procession at around 10:00am with truncheons in their hands and their demonstration went on for about an hour.

After the procession reached the Bipile crossing, police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) charged on the procession at about 11:00am leading to a chase and counter chase leaving around 100 workers and several law enforcers injured.

Officer-in-Charge of Ashulia Police Station Obaidul Hoque said he had no alternative but to charge batons as hundreds were about to attack the garment factories.

The clash triggered panic in the area and many factories at Jamgora, Bipile and EPZ area were closed down. Local businesses were also shut down for several hours during and after the clash.