Violence shuts two factories in Ashulia

Owners of Elecon Sweater BD Ltd shut down the company's factory in Ashulia yesterday for an indefinite period after workers staged violent demonstrations.
Over 2,000 workers of Elecon Sweater, located inside the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), began protests around 7am, demanding a pay hike.
The workers assaulted and injured five factory officials; two of the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Workers also blocked traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail highway at around 8:30am and vandalised at least three vehicles, said Fayezul Kabir, deputy director of Industrial Police.
Witnesses said at least 15 workers were injured in the incident and the police had to fire into the air to disperse the workers.
In another incident, 3,000 workers of Bekko Group, a woven fabric factory in Kathgora, Ashulia, vandalised computers and machinery inside the factory for not implementing the increment fully as promised by authorities.
Police rushed to the spot around 9am and at least 10 people were injured, said Mokhlesur Rahman, an inspector of Industrial Police.
Later, authorities shut the factory for an indefinite period fearing further violence, he added.