RMG unrest rattles Ashulia again
At least 50 people were injured and production at five ready-made garment factories in Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital, remained suspended yesterday due to clashes between police and workers.
The workers vandalised several factories in Jamgorah and around 15 vehicles, halting the traffic on Dhaka-Tangail highway for over two hours.
Around 1,800 workers of Fashion Knit Composite Limited had been staging a protest since Sunday demanding removal of its Administrative Officer Anisur Rahman and Accounts Officer Mehedi Hasan for their alleged misbehaviour with workers, said Moktar Hossain, deputy director of Industrial Police.
“However, the factory authorities refused to remove the officials and said those who were unwilling to continue their jobs were welcome to resign,” added Moktar.
When the workers went to the factory around 8:00am yesterday, they saw a notice saying 102 workers were terminated, which, said Moktar, sparked a storm of protest among the workers.
He said the workers set fire to the generator room of Fashion Knit and pelted brickbats at some adjacent factories. The workers of the adjacent factories later joined the agitation and took to streets.
Police used rubber bullets and tear gas canisters to disperse the agitating workers who, in turn, pelted brick chips the law enforcers.
Of the injured, five were policemen and three security guards of Fashion Knit Composite Limited, witnesses said.
Most of the injured were admitted to local hospitals, while Yunus Ali, security in-charge of Fashion Knit, was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
At one stage, the authorities of several adjacent factories including IDS Fashion, Safa Sweaters, Rose Garments and Green Life Garments, announced their factories closed for the day.
Additional police were deployed to avert further violence.
Contacted, Sheikh Badrul Alam, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station, told The Daily Star that none had been arrested and no case had been filed in this connection.
Meanwhile, the workers of Multi Modern Apparels Ltd, located in Dhanaid area of Ashulia, also staged a protest after the factory hung up closure notice in the morning.
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