14 injured in clash between workers and cops in Bogura

At least 14 people including four police personnel were injured in a clash between police and workers of Ronak Spinning Mill Limited in Bogura's Sherpur upazila today.

The injured workers and police personnel are undergoing treatment at Sherpur Upazila Health Complex, said Gaziur Rahman, additional superintendent of police (Sherpur circle).

According to workers of the mill, a dispute broke out between the mill authorities and workers as four of them were allegedly suspended during the closure.

When two of the suspended workers tried to join office yesterday, the mill's security officer stopped them, the workers said. The General Manager of the mill Munjur Morshed also reportedly beat up the suspended workers, the workers added.

In protest, 250 workers gathered and started demonstrating inside the mill with a 12-point demand which included payment of due salary and bonus before Eid.

The mill authorities eventually called police to disperse the protesters.

Police charged batons and fired six rounds of rubber bullets resulting in the clash which left 14 people injured, the additional superintendent of Gaziur police was quoted as saying.

The General Manager (Corporate) of the mill Abul Kashem said the problem has now been resolved.

The workers returned to their workplace by afternoon after mill owners accepted all 12 demands, according to sources in the police.

Mill authorities also said they would bear the treatment expense of the injured workers.