At least 50 people, including police officials, were injured in a clash between readymade garments (RMG) workers and law enforcers at Konabari in Gazipur on Wednesday morning.
Workers of Islam Industrial Group staged a demonstration in front of their factory at Konabari when they discovered it to be closed when going to work at around 8am. They were soon joined by the workers of Standard Group demanding the implementation of the new salary structure.
Witnesses said some 10,000 RMG workers from various adjacent factories joined the workers of Islam Industrial Group, triggering sporadic clashes with the police that left 50 people injured.
Meanwhile, the agitated workers blockaded the Dhaka-Tangail highway and started a fire on the road. ASM Shamsur Rahman, assistant superintendent of Industrial Police in Gazipur said: “The situation was brought under control by 11am.”
He said: “Police fired several rounds of rubber bullets, teargas shells and deployed sound grenades to bring the situation under control.”
He added that five police members were injured in the clash.
Md Taz Uddin, manager of NTKC factory said around 53 factories were declared to be closed to avoid any further deterioration of the law and order situation within the area.
Meanwhile, some factories at Tin Sarak and Lakhkhipura area were also declared closed because of the unrest.
Mosharaf Hossain, assistant superintendent of Industrial Police in Gazipur said the situation in Mauna and its adjacent areas was normal.
Additional police were deployed in the areas to avoid further unrest.
RMG workers have been demonstrating for a few days now to protest the indifference of owners towards the Tk5,300 minimum wage standard proposed by the government.
However, the workers themselves demand a minimum wage of Tk8,000.