100 hurt as RMG workers clash with cops at Ashulia

Over a hundred people, including 31 policemen were injured in clashes between garment workers and law enforcers at Sripur in Ashulia yesterday.
Angry workers of Kushiara Knitwear Industries Ltd of Samad Group damaged about 30 vehicles and put barricade on Dhaka-Tangail Highway for over two hours from 3:00pm protesting delay in payment of salary.
Sources said the area turned into a battle zone as police fired over 200 shots and lobbed 80 teargas canisters to disperse the agitating workers who retaliated by hurling brickbats and stones at the law enforcers.
Sources said when the authorities of the factory owned by Awami League lawmaker Mahmud-us-Samad from Sylhet-3 said the workers' salaries for January would be given on February 18 instead of 5, about 2,000 angry workers attacked the factory building.
They damaged furniture and vandalised three private cars and two microbuses parked inside the factory.
Later, the angry workers took to the Dhaka-Tangail Highway and ransacked vehicles. They also put barricades on the highway bringing vehicular movement to a halt for over two hours.
On information, police rushed to the spot and charged baton on the agitating workers to disperse them.
The workers alleged that the factory authorities never pay their monthly salaries on time.
The injured include Ashulia Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Rafiqul Islam, garment workers Sumi Akhter, Nipa, Beauty, Taslima, Nazma Sumi, Sumon, Abul, Swapan, Rasel, Dolly, Azam, Hasnat and Dalia.
Rafiqul Islam told The Daily Star, "We fired over 100 blank shots and lobbed more than 50 teargas canisters to disperse the garment workers."
"At least 31 policemen and over 20 passengers were wounded. But no garment worker was injured," the OC said.
No case was filed and none was arrested in connection with the incident, he added.