Ctg sees fierce cop-worker clash
Around 100 people, including 10 policemen, were reportedly injured in a clash between workers of a readymade garment factory and the law enforcers in Chittagong city's Station Road area yesterday morning.
Several hundred workers of Asian Apparels Ltd took to the street protesting relocation of the factory from Station Road to Kattali in the city, said police.
Police picked up around 100 workers from the spot, claimed workers.
Contacted, Jasim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, who was also injured in the clash, said when police requested the workers to leave the street, they started hurling brickbats at them, leading to the clash.
Police charged batons, and fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the workers, said the OC, adding that some were picked up from the spot. “We will interrogate and later release them if they are found not guilty.”
The demonstrators alleged that the supervisers in the factory at Kattali used to torture the workers, including the female ones. So they do not want to work there, they added.
“A superviser yesterday (Tuesday) physically tortured a worker in the cutting section, leading to a commotion among his colleagues,” said a worker preferring anonymity, adding, “United, workers protested the incident and came to the factory's head office on Station Road, demanding justice.”
“Then the authorities told us to come today (Wednesday) for arbitration,” said another worker.
As a result, they assembled before the head office but police started charging them with batons, injuring over 100 workers, he alleged.
Workers said most of the injured were given primary treatment.
Six workers were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, said Assistant Sub-inspector Pankaj Barua of CMCH police camp.
Maninuddin Ahmed Mintu, first vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (BGMEA), termed the incident as part of “sabotage” instigated by outsiders.
“The authority shifted the factory around two months ago on compliance issues,” he said, adding, “All the allegations of workers are baseless.”
Asian Apparels Chairman MA Salam did not receive his cellphone despite repeated attempts.
The half-an-hour long clash caused sufferings to several thousand people, including students, in the busy area adjacent to New Market. Traffic remained halted for around two hours, triggering a long tailback.
Many women were seen running with their kids during the clash.
Our CU correspondent adds, workers of Amin Jute Mill yesterday blocked the rail track of Chittagong University shuttle trains and Chittagong-Hathazari road for over one and half hours, demanding their dues.
They withdrew the blockade after being assured by the authorities and police administration of being paid, said Md Mohsin, officer-in-charge of Bakalia Police Station.
Earlier on August 21, the workers also put similar barricade demanding dues.
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