A worker of readymade garment (RMG) was killed and at least six others injured during a clash with the personnel from the joint forces in Ashulia, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Kawsar Hossain Khan, who was a sewing operator at Mango Tex Limited. Two among the injured workers were identified as Russel Mia and Nayan.
Most of the bullet hit workers were rushed to Savar Enam Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared Kawsar dead.
Tensions remain high in the area following the clash.
The clash took place when workers staged protests with various demands, including increasing of wages.
Ashulia Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Abu Bakar Siddique, said, the workers began demonstrating on Monday morning, calling for an increase in their wages. By the afternoon, the situation escalated when law-enforcers arrived on the scene and fired rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse the protesters, leaving three workers injured.
Witnesses said a clash broke out between workers and protesters around noon at Tongibari area on the Ashulia-Baipail road when a group of factory workers staged a protest demanding a wage hike.
Enamul Haque, a physician at the hospital, said, "Kawsar was brought dead to the hospital. He has a bullet wound on his lower abdomen while the two others suffered bullet wounds to their chests."
Ekramul Haque, one of injured workers from Mangotex factory, said workers of Mondal Group were protesting over various demands.
"Our factory is located opposite Mondal Group's. As we were leaving the factory to head home, law enforcement officers started firing at us," he said.
Eyewitnesses and locals said after 12pm workers of some garment factories blocked a road in the Jirabo area of the industrial area.
At one point, when the members of the law and order forces tried to disperse the workers by chasing them, a clash broke out.
Meanwhile, law enforcement personnel fired tear shells to control the situation.
At least 30 workers were injured in the clash and several workers were shot dead, the workers claimed.
Workers have been protesting for weeks with demands to increase minimum wage, among others. A number of factories in Ashulia area have bene facing closures daily due to unrest.
Additional DIG of Dhaka Range Mostafizur Rahman was present on the spot.
He did not receive calls on his mobile phone several times to get the statement. He also did not respond to texts sent on WhatsApp.
Industrial Police-1 SP Sarwar Alam could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.
When contacted, Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Ahmed Muyeed said that he did not know anything about the incident.
Meanwhile, another group of RMG workers block Nabinagar-Chandra highway demanding arrears, factory reopening
Workers of Birds Group in the Ashulia industrial area blocked the Nabinagar-Chandra highway in the morning, demanding arrears and reopening of the factory.
The demonstration started around 9:30am at the Baipail and Savar DOHS areas, and as of 12:30pm, the protest was still taking place, said Abu Bakar Siddique, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station.
Members of law enforcement are working to restore normal traffic flow, he added.
The protest follows a notice issued by Birds Group on August 27, citing financial difficulties caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and the global economic downturn.
The company stated it had been operating at a loss for some time and was unable to secure new work orders. As a result, the company announced the closure of its subsidiaries, including RNR Fashions Ltd, Birds Garments Ltd, Birds Fedrex Ltd, and Bird's A&Z Ltd, effective August 28, reports our Savar correspondent quoting police.
One of the protesting workers said that the factory had been closed without paying workers their wages for the last three months.
"We are protesting to demand our dues and the reopening of the factory. If our demands are not met, we will continue the demonstration," he said.
It should be mentioned there is no respite from the continuous unrest in the RMG sector despite various measures have been taken by the high-officials of the government, factory owners and law-enforcement agencies in last one month.
Rather, the situation is worsening day by day leaving the apparel sector, mainly in Ashulia, Savar and Gazipur industrial zones, into a possible disaster.
Workers from many of the RMG factories have been protesting with their various demands, including payment of unpaid wages, increasing of salaries and ensuring of working environment.
In view of press home their demands, the workers have also been staging demonstrations by blocking roads and highways in Ashulia, Savar, Tongi and Gazipur.
