3 factories torched, 4 vandalised in Gazipur

Protesting garment factory workers set fire to a building in Gazipur on Friday. Photo: Focus Bangla

Several thousand readymade garment workers on Friday set fire to three factories and vandalised four others in Gazipur to protest the Savar building collapse that killed over 300 people.

They brought out processions, chanting slogans asking for the home minister’s resignation and immediate trial of the owners of the garment factories housed at the collapsed building.

The unruly workers set fire to Roshwa Spinning Mills in Nayanpur area in Shripur upazila of Gazipur at about 6:30pm.

Over 5,000 workers took part in the attack, with more agitating ones joining them, said eyewitnesses.

Fire fighters doused the fire at around 8:30pm, AM Sazedul Kabir Joardar, station officer of Bhaluka fire station, told our Gazipur correspondent.

Riot police and Rapid Action Battalion personnel were deployed in the area, said Ameer Hossain, officer-in-charge of Shripur Police Station, claiming that the situation was currently under control.

The workers also attacked four garment factories at about 4:30pm with bamboo sticks and brick chips at the MC Bazaar area in the same upazila.

They tore down the main gate of Mir Ceramic Industries, and vandalised an ATM booth of AB Bank, reports our Gazipur correspondent.

They also vandalised around 50 vehicles on the streets during the attacks.
The workers also blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway from noon demanding death penalty to owners of the collapsed building and the garments factories it housed, said Iqbal Hossain, sergeant of Naojore Highway Police Station.

The road blockades were cleared by 8:00pm, reports our correspondent.
Earlier, the fire at two garment factories in Gazipur was doused around 1:00pm after fire fighters took the situation under control.

Meanwhile, at least 10 people were injured as garment workers clashed with law enforcers in Narayanganj on Friday, reports our correspondent in the district.

The clash ensued when police tried to disperse the stick-wielding workers who vandalised five factories at Panchabati BISIC Industrial Area in Fatullah around 10:00am, said Akhter Hossain, officer-in-charge of Fatullah Police Station.

Police rounded up 22 workers in connection with the vandalism, he added.