30 injured as police, RMG workers clash on 4th day of demonstration

At least 30 people were injured in sporadic clashes between readymade garment workers and police in different areas of Savar and Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital, on Wednesday, reports UNB.

The workers from different RMG factories in Ulail of Savar and Kathgara in Ashulia area brought out processions demanding their wage hike, witnesses said.

At a stage of the procession, the workers reportedly threw brickbats at police triggering a chase and counter-chase that lasted for about an hour.

Police charged baton and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse them, leaving at least 30 people injured, according to the witnesses.

A tense situation is prevailing in the area following the incident. A team of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was seen patrolling in the area to fend off further troubles.

Following the clash, traffic movement on Baipail-Abdullahpur highway remained suspended for about an hour as the RMG workers put up barricades in Narsinghapur of Ashulia.

The garment workers also blocked Dhaka-Aricha highway at Kalampur in Dhamrai in the morning, halting traffic movement for nearly an hour.

They, however, left the place upon request by the law enforcers.

Earlier in the morning, thousands of RMG workers in different parts of the industrial zone of Savar started demonstration for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, demanding cancellation of the 'discriminatory' wage board announced by the government for them.

Officials of the Industrial police said the workers from several RMG factories in Ulail and Genda areas started gathering on the streets since morning and began demonstrations by setting tyres on fire.

The agitated workers also hurled brick chips at their factories, witnesses added.

The workers of five factories put up barricades on Bishmile-Jirabo road in Kathgara of Ashulia demanding wage hike.

Besides, the production in four factories in Ulail, Hemayetpur of Savar and Charabagh of Ashulia, remained suspended since Wednesday morning following the unrest of the workers.

The factory authorities, meanwhile, have hung closure notices at the gates of their respective factories.

Additional police have been deployed in Savar and Ashulia areas to avoid further troubles, said Shana Shaminur Rahman, director of Industrial Police-1.

Police were in discussions with the factory owners to find out ways to restore the working environment in the factories.

Earlier, Sumon Mia, 22, a worker of Anlima Textile, was killed and 30 others injured in clashes with police during demonstrations in Hemayetpur of Savar on Tuesday.

The authorities of Anlima Textile declared a general holiday for Wednesday following the death of its worker.