10 Ctg RMG workers hurt in clash with cops

At least 10 apparel workers were injured when they clashed with law enforcers on Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) compound in the port city demanding their arrears and overtime this morning.

Of the injured, condition of three, who sustained bullet wounds, was stated to be critical, reports our Chittagong correspondent.

They are now undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.

The agitating workers also torched a motorcycle on the CEPZ ground, said Abul Monsur, officer-in-charge (OC) of the export procession zone.

The clash erupted around 8:00am when the workers of Section Seven Ltd and Section Seven Apparels Ltd, owned by the same proprietor, were holding a rally on the CEPZ premises demanding their arrears and overtime, said Arifur Rahman, deputy assistant director of industrial police in Chittagong.

At a point of the demonstration, police started to charge baton that provoked the workers to go on vandalising, witnesses said.

Agitated workers also torched a motorcycle protesting the police action on them.

At one stage, police fired several rubber bullets to disperse the marauding workers, the police official added.

During the clash, 10 RMG workers sustained bullet wounds, he added.