RMG workers run amok in Savar, Gazipur

Being angered by the deaths of their fellows, workers clash with the law enforcers on Dhaka-Aricha highway on Saturday. Photo: TV grab

Outraged by the deaths of fellow-workers in a deadly building collapse, the ready made garment workers went on a rampage in Savar and Gazipur on Saturday demanding punishment to the owner of the building.

At least 50 workers were injured in Savar as they clashed with law enforcers.

The marauding workers also vandalised eight factories in Savar and Gazipur.

The traffic movement on Dhaka-Aricha highway came to a halt for four hours during the clash that ensued around 9:00am, said Shyamol Kumar Mukharjee, additional superintendent of police in Dhaka district.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the nine-storey building collapse reached 340 on Saturday, three days into the tragedy.

SAVAR

At least 50 garment workers were injured, including three by bullets, in the clash at Ulail and Phulbari.

The workers vandalised at least five vehicles on Dhaka-Aricha highway during the clash, halting vehicular movement since 9:00am, the additional superintendent of police said.

Angered by the deaths of their fellow workers, several thousand garment workers took to the highway in Ulail area demanding capital punishment to those responsible for the Savar building tragedy.

During the clash, sporadic incident of chases and counter-chases took place between the workers and law enforcers when police tried to disperse the workers.

Police charged batons to disperse the workers when they hurled brick chips on them and vandalised the vehicles.

The law enforcers opened several rounds from shotguns, fired rubber bullets and lobbed teargas shells when the workers tried to move towards the Rana Plaza, the site of Savar tragedy.

The workers sustained injuries during the clash that later spread to Phulbari.

Vehicular movement on the highway resumed around 1:00pm after police managed to disperse the demonstrators.

GAZIPUR

Around one hundred stick-wielding workers vandalised three factories in Shreepur upazila as those were continuing operation Saturday morning defying the garment factory owners' decision to keep the factories closed on Saturday and Sunday, reported our correspondent.

Suddenly the protestors came and attacked CRC Textile Mill at Vangnahati on Shreepur-Mawna road around 10:30am.

The agitators damaged the windowpanes of the factory and also hurled brick chips towards it.

At least eight workers of the factory were injured in the attack.

Later, the marauding workers rushed towards two other factories -- Outpace and Makka Madina spinning mills -- at Channapara and vandalised those.

Meanwhile, Pran Ballav Sarker, deputy general manager of CRC, said they kept the factory open as the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) announced to closed only the garments factories that do not have textile mills.

On information police rushed to the spot, said Amir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Shreepur Police Station.

But the agitators ran away before the law enforcers reached the scene, he added.

RanaPlaza, a nine-storey building, housing five garment factories, a shopping complex and a branch of Brac Bank collapsed Wednesday morning.