The Dhaka Times Desk Workers' dissatisfaction continues in garment industries in Narayanganj, Gazipur and Ashulia demanding minimum wage of Tk 8,000. Garment owners have announced to open all garments today.
Ignoring the rain, the garment workers started blocking the highways and protesting at different places on Wednesday and they clashed with the police. In the clash, 10 garment workers were shot and more than 150 were injured. More than 350 garment factories in Narayanganj, Gazipur and Ashulia have been declared closed for fear of sabotage. The garment factory workers alleged that the police were paying the labor price of the agitating garment workers by firing and baton. They warned that labor unrest can never be quelled by firing and batons.
At least 30 people including 10 people were shot dead in clashes between police and garment factory workers in Shibu Market area of Fatulla Upazila on Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road on Wednesday. The clash took place when the garment workers tried to block the road. During the clash, the workers vandalized several vehicles and 20-25 garment factories. Police fired 50 rounds of shotgun and one round of tear shells to bring the situation under control. According to the register of Narayanganj 200-bed hospital, 15 garment workers have received treatment.
Garment factory workers blocked the road in Konabari area of Dhaka-Tangail highway yesterday. At the same time protests started by blocking the highway at Chandraya on the Kaliakir-Navinagar road. At 9:30 am, the police chased the garment workers when they tried to block the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway signboard and Barabari area. At 8:30 in the morning, the road was blocked and cars vandalized in Panishal area. Clashes broke out when the police fired more than half a hundred tear shells and rubber bullets to disperse them. It was reported that 2 police constables and around 50 workers were injured.
The protest started at Banglabazar in Ashulia's Narsinghpur area of Savar yesterday at 9 am. 20 people were injured in police lathi charge while blocking the highway in Ashulia-Konabari area. Garment factory workers blocked Nabinagar-Kaliakoir highway in Jirani area and protested. When they tried to vandalize the car, the industrial police brought water cannons and armored vehicles and lathi-charged extensively in Jirani area. At this time, the entire Jirani area became a battlefield due to frequent clashes. At least 40 people including a policeman were injured. When the situation went out of control, the police fired at least 40 rounds of rubber bullets and 20 rounds of tear shells to bring the situation under control.
Meanwhile, garment factory owners have decided to keep all factories open from Thursday morning. The owners announced this decision after a meeting with the Home Ministry yesterday. The owners said, we are ready to keep the factory running if the government ensures safety.
According to the latest news, security has been strengthened with police and RAB in various areas including Savar, Gazipur and Narayanganj.
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