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Download PDF A female garment worker was killed and 12 other workers were injured as police opened fire and charged baton on the workers demonstrating for overtime arrears and monthly salaries in front of their factory in Gazipur last night.
Four policemen were also hurt in the incident at Board Bazar.
Sources said the 25-year-old Asma Akhtar from Patuakhali, worker of Fortuna Apparels Ltd, received a bullet in the back during firing. She was rushed to a local hospital where doctors declared her dead.
Witnesses said the workers vandalised six vehicles on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway following the police action on them. According to the workers, the police fired 20-25 rounds of bullets.
But Superintendent of Police of Gazipur Alamgir Alam told The Daily Star last night that the law enforcers fired five shotgun shells to disperse the demonstrators.
Around 2,000 workers went to the factory yesterday to collect their overtime bills and salaries for the month of April and came to know that the management had curtailed their overtime work to 30 hours from 80 hours.
The workers thronged the factory following Saturday’s deal that their outstanding overtime wages since March and salary of the last month will be paid by Tuesday.
Witnesses said the angry workers started agitation and at one stage came out of the factory and blockaded the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway at 5:00pm for around two and a half hours.
The police tried to convince the demonstrators to leave the highway. They opened fire as the demonstrators did not pay heed to them and continued chanting slogans demanding their outstanding arrears.
Other joint forces agencies present on the spot charged baton to disperse the demonstrators.
Factory Chairman Engineer Taher, however, denied the allegation of cutting off the overtime arrears. “We have paid arrears to some workers today [Sunday] and all the bills will be paid by Tuesday. I do not know why the workers staged the demonstration,” he said last night.
The workers of the garment factory also blockaded the highway on Saturday, demanding payment of the arrears. Later, the joint forces struck the deal between the workers and factory officials and the workers lifted the blockade.
A three-member committee was formed to probe the incident.
A team of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) last night went to Gazipur to assess the situation.
Joint forces were deployed in the area yesterday to check further untoward incident.
May 21st, 2007 at 9:31 pm
We are all witnessing the evils of poltical corruption, dark faces of poverty & inefficiency
and cruel rulings of the Industrial Management all
over the globe.
My deepest sympathy goes with the poor factory workers. These poor half fed or under fed workers
work very hard in hot factory temperature, their money is very hard earned not through easy extortion, but by clear honest work.
Why then their overtme be reduced.
Is it not proper for the caretaker Government to subsidise the Garment factories who are cutting their edge yet they earn solid foreign currencies benefical for the country’s economy.
Why a portion of funds recovered from the illegal earners are not used for the poor people.
Why factory workers are not made profit sharer by
an enactment of an Industrial law.
I love the workers of all industrial sectors who
work honestly , and yet enjoy a honest living.
I salute these honest Industrial workers.
Though they should not have taken the course of violent action, only a needy can feel the indepth
of their sufferings.
Why Police could not quell the riot by any other means than shooting these poor people.What is the value of the life of a poor person.
When an Englishman’s dog is lost, every news papers cryout for them, is that what is the value of life in Bangladesh.
With due respect, I call upon the Caretaking Govt to help the Industrial workers, make each worker a share holder of the factory they work, even awarding a Taka share. We have seen the evils, make them laugh, give them a little smile,
that poor girl died who was only 25, she must have a child & parents to feed, what will happen to her.For the Sake of ALLAH, for the sake of Islam, for the sake of humanity, wake up you all
honest people, share your wealth with the poor people, if you cannot, create a central voluntary poor funds for Bangladesh, contribute a Taka per month if not higher, help the mass people. Let every one have atleast one good meal a day.
Islam lives in every human heart,help them, love them if you want to be loved by the ALMIGHTY ALLAH
Thank you,
B.Ahmed