Unrest in Ashulia: 100 factories shut
Garment workers clashed with the police in Ashulia on the outskirts of Dhaka yesterday to demand a minimum wage of Tk 8,114, leaving at least 40 injured.
Production at 100 factories was suspended following the clashes, said Md Shahidullah, senior deputy director of Industrial Police.
Protesters threw stones at Constable Jyoti Akhter, leaving her with head injuries. She was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Jyoti was among the five law enforcers injured by the workers.
Traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail highway remained suspended for about two hours from 9am, when around 5,000 workers of over 100 factories began demonstrations, Shahidullah said.
Law enforcers charged batons and fired several rounds of rubber bullets and teargas canisters, leaving 35 workers injured, witnesses said. The injured workers were given first-aid at local health complexes.
Following the clashes, factory owners suspended production at the units in the area for the day, said Abdus Salam Murshedy, former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
“The workers continued demonstrations as they were most probably unaware of Wednesday night's decision,” Murshedy said.
The labour ministry raised worker wage by 77 percent to Tk 5,300 a month to be effective from December 1, after owners agreed to a pay recommendation by a government-appointed panel.
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