About two thousand workers of Paddocks Jeans Ltd (PJL) began a work stoppage at 10:00am yesterday, calling for immediate implementation of their eight-point demand including higher wages and lunch.

They continued agitation on the factory premises, keeping the officers confined to their rooms. Then at around 1:00pm, the law enforcers made an attempt to storm the factory to free the officials.

To prevent the police from entering, the workers tried to lock the factory's main gate. At one stage, police and the agitators began to pelt one another with stones. Two policemen and 13 workers were injured during the stone-throwing.

Shahida, Rabeya, Rehana, Anwara, Masuda, Sabana and Ripon are among the workers hurt badly while identities of the injured policemen could not be confirmed immediately.

Workers also beat up a line chief named Joynal during the agitation.

The situation got back to normal at 4:30pm after the authorities had assured them of meeting the demands within a week and removed manager and personal manager of the factory as demanded by the demonstrators.

Since June, the factory authorities have been threatening that the workers taking part in demonstrations will be subjected to police harassment and get the axe, alleged the workers.

But the threats and intimidation backfired, prompting the workers to intensify the agitation, they added.

The eight-point demand submitted to the general manager of the factory on July 15 includes cancellation of termination of 38 workers, regularisation of jobs, conveyance, attendance bonus, medical facilities, and removal of two officers.

A huge contingent of police, Bangladesh Rifles and Rapid Action Battalion personnel were deployed around the factory to avert untoward incidents.