At least 25 people, including policemen, were injured on Tuesday, when a clash broke out between ready-made garments (RMG) workers and law enforcers in Gazipur during demonstrations protesting layoffs.
The incident was reported from the Cherag Ali area of Tongi where workers from the Gooryong Fashions Ltd demonstrated against the dismissal of 28 workers, said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) S Alam of Tongi Industrial police.
“At least 500 workers of the factory blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway for an hour. When we tried to get them off the road, they threw brickbats at the police” said the senior police officer.
According to witnesses, police resorted to baton charge and lobbed sound grenades to disperse the agitators.
Some of the workers of the factory said, on Monday, the factory authorities issued a show-cause notice to some 28 workers and dismissed them without prior notice.
On Tuesday, the workers found a notice hanging on the factory gate that said the factory would remain closed for an indefinite period.
An employee of the factory, seeking anonymity, said some of the workers at the factory got into a fight and asked the factory authority to look into the matter on Saturday.
On Monday, both groups halted production and raised various demands from the owners. The factory was declared closed to keep the situation under control. “However, no one was fired,” he said.