Bangladesh News

A garment worker was killed and 25 others were injured as Ansars personnel yesterday opened fire on agitators demanding a pay hike at a sweater factory in Ashulia.

Several hundred protesting garment workers set fire to the Ansars camp at the factory “S Suhi Industrial Park Ltd” in Jamgara and blocked the Dhaka-Tangail Highway for half an hour.

The protesters also damaged five vehicles on the road, vandalised windowpanes and doors of the factory and torched a vehicle parked at the compound.

Police sources say they lobbed around nine teargas canisters to calm the situation.

Bullet-hit Al-Amin, 26, was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where he died during treatment. His colleague Rony also received a bullet and is undergoing treatment at DMCH.

The other injured were taken to local hospitals and clinics, witnesses say.

The witnesses add the clash ensued when the agitating workers beat up general manager Anisur Rahman and assistant general manager (AGM) Kamal Uddin at the factory gate around 9:30am.

Earlier, the workers got agitated hearing that three fellow workers — Manju, Liton and Abu Bakkar — were not allowed to enter the workplace.

The workers say the three on behalf of them on Thursday handed over a petition to the authorities to raise their salary. They allege the authorities tried to dismiss the petitioners for this reason.

The Ansars personnel who were on duty at the factory intervened and fired three rounds of bullets, injuring two and resulting in a huge protest.

Following the shooting, the workers took to the Dhaka-Tangail Highway and started vandalising vehicles blocking the road.

On information, police rushed to the spot and removed the protesters from the road after an effort for half an hour at 10:30am.

Police said as they cleared the highway the workers entered the factory compound from behind and set fire to the Ansars camp.

During the arson attack the Ansars fired another blank shot that worsened the situation. The infuriated workers hurled brickbats at the factory damaging the windowpanes and doors, police said.

At this stage, workers from nearby garments, which were shut fearing a possible attack, joined the agitators, witnesses say.

Monwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Ashulia police station, said, “We picked up the Ansars personnel along with their arms to ease the situation and save them from the angry mob.”