25 hurt as workers, cops clash in 2 districts

At least 25 people were injured in separate clashes between workers and police in Kushtia and Narayanganj yesterday.

Of them, five Bidi workers sustained bullet injuries as police opened fire on them at Hossainabad in Kushtia's Daulatpur upazila.

According to witnesses, around 30 to 40 workers of Akij Bidi Factory reached their workplace around half an hour late.

The guards of the factory resisted them from entering their workplace. At one point, it triggered chaos.

On information, police rushed there around 10:00am and started charging batons on the workers.

In response, workers also hurled brickbats targeting police.

As the situation went out of control, police opened fire on the workers, leaving five of them injured, the witnesses added.

Workers' leader Nayon Islam and Daulatpur Upazila Parishad Chairman Ezaz Ahmed Mamun confirmed.

Contacted, Zahurul Alam, officer-in-charge of Daulatpur Police Station, admitted that five workers sustained bullet injuries.

"The situation is now under control," he said.

Meanwhile in Narayanganj, at least 20 readymade garment workers were injured in a clash with police in Shiddhirganj upazila.

The clash took place when the workers were staging demonstration demanding their due wages in front of the main gate of Adamzi EPZ around 1:00pm.

Police and witnesses said workers of Kwun Tong Apparels Ltd started demonstration at around 8:00am demanding due wages.

Later, around 1:00pm, the workers took position on Shimrail-Adamzi-Narayanganj road and halted vehicular movement.

On information, police rushed to the spot and tried to drive away the workers. It triggered clash between the two groups. Police charged batons and lobbed tear shells to disperse the workers.

At least 20 workers were injured in the incident, claimed workers.

Contacted, Moshiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Siddhirganj Police Station, said the demonstration caused long tailback on road.

"That is why, police drove them away. Now the situation was under control," he added.

Our Kushtia and Narayanganj correspondents contributed to this report.