RMG workers clash with cops, 30 hurt

At least 30 RMG workers were injured in a clash with police at Masterbari under Sadar upazila in Gazipur yesterday.
The clash took place as the police fired several rounds of tear shells to disperse the workers of the Stylo Fashion Garments Ltd, who blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in the area demanding the arrears and Eid bonus, said the witnesses and victims.
Hundreds of vehicles got stuck on both sides of the highway during the blockade that continued for half an hour from 10:00am.
On information, police rushed to the spot and dispersed the agitating workers from the highway, said Inspector Md Helaluzzaman of Gazipur Industrial Police.
The injured workers said they had received primary treatment at local pharmacies.
Police claimed that three of their members had also sustained injuries in the clash with the workers.
Earlier, the agitating workers staged a demonstration on the factory premises around 8:30am for the salary and bonus. They also vandalised the factory during the demonstration.
They said the factory authorities had failed to pay their salary for July, and Eid bonus on the day as announced earlier.
The authorities, however, had paid the salary and bonus in the afternoon after a meeting with the workers' representatives in coordination with the police, said Sub-inspector Md Akhtaruzzaman of Gazipur Industrial Police.