At least 70 apparel factories in Savar and Gazipur was declared closed
for Sunday following clashes between workers and the law enforcers that
left 75 injured.
The clashes erupted at Ashulia of Savar and Konabari and Kashimpur in
Gazipur when the police tried to disperse workers in the areas who took
to the street demanding minimum Tk 8,000 as the minimum monthly wage and
immediate reopening of closed factories, said witnesses.
A factory of Standard Group and at least 30 shops in the adjacent area of the factory in Gazipur were set on fire.
The workers continued with protests pressing for Tk 8,000 as minimum
monthly wage, while apparel factory owners, after a meeting with prime
minister Sheikh Hasina on November 13, accepted the award of the Minimum
Wage Board fixing Tk 5,300 as the minimum wage for apparel workers.
In Savar, workers of different apparel factories in Jamgara, Jirabo,
Kathgara and other areas of Ashulia blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway.
They clashed with the police who tried to disperse them. At least 50 people were injured.
Later, the authorities of some 50 factories including Rose Dresses
Limited owned by Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters
Association president Atikul Islam, was suspended their production for
the day.
Ashulia Industrial police-1 chief Abdus Sattar said some workers came
down on the Dhaka-Tangail highway and attacked vehicles before the
police drove them off.
New Age correspondent in Gazipur reported that at least 25 people were
injured in clashes between the police and sweater factory worker at
Konbari and Kashimpur.
The agitated worker set fire to a factory of Standard Group and at least
30 shops of a market in adjacent area of the factory pressing for
immediate reopening of the factory and wage hike.
Witnesses said workers Standard Group and others factories clashed with
the police. They also ransacked some vehicles and factories and set fire
to logs and burned tyres to block the Kashipmpur–Konabari road.
The police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells to disperse the
workers, triggering a clash that left 25 people injured, said assistant
superintendent of Gazipur industrial police ASM Samsur Rahman.
The authorities closed 20 factories for the day apprehending further trouble. (source)