RMG workers go on rampage
Death of worker sparks clash; 50 hurt
Agitating workers of a garment factory in Savar yesterday went on the rampage following the death of a fellow worker.
They vandalised different floors of the factory and clashed with police that injured at least 50 people, police and locals said.
According to police, Humayun Kabir, 25, quality inspector of Dress World Ltd under Vertex Group in Hemayetpur, died at his residence while the workers alleged that he died inside the factory.
Around 3,500 workers of the garment factory burst into fierce demonstrations after lunch hour hearing the death news of Humayun, a resident of city's Shonir Bil in Mohammapur.
The agitators also put barricade on Hemayetpur-Singair road for about two hours from 2:00pm.
Police fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters to disperse the clashing workers who retaliated with bamboo sticks and by hurling brickbats.
Iqbal Bahar, Dhaka district superintendent of police, told The Daily Star that the employee died at his residence after he fell sick. But the agitating workers rejected the SP's claim saying he died inside the factory.
Contacted, Vertex Group director (commercial) Monir Hossain said, "Humayun did not join his work today yesterday and his wife took the body for burial from a clinic."
"The workers became violent following a rumour that he died inside the factory", Monir added.
The agitating workers said Humayun had earlier requested the authorities to allow his leave prayer, as he was feeling sick around 11:00am. But he was not allowed to leave his workplace and at one stage he became unconscious.
He was rushed to Jamal Clinic in the area where doctors declared him dead, they said.
The workers alleged that the factory authorities, to escape their guilt, sent the body of Humayun to his village home in Chuadanga hurriedly ignoring the demand for handing over the body to them.
Police arrested seven employees of the factory from the spot.
A tense situation was prevailing in the area even though a huge number of additional forces were deployed there to avert further clashes.
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