A clash between police and factory workers on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur's Sreepur on Tuesday left at least seven people injured, including five members of the law enforcement agency.
Gazipur Industrial Police Inspector ASM Abdur Noor said: "I was injured when a brick thrown by the workers struck my head. I am currently admitted to Al Hera Hospital. Four constables also sustained injuries during the altercation."
According to our Gazipur correspondent, the clash erupted around noon when hundreds of workers of Anwara Knit Composite factory blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, demanding payment of their attendance bonuses and accrued annual leave.
The highway remained impassable for two hours due to the protest in the Mauna Palli Bidyut area, disrupting vehicular movement.
Sub-Inspector Ismail of Mauna Highway Police Station reported that normal traffic resumed around 2pm.
Superintendent Sarwar Alam of Gazipur Industrial Police said: "We requested the workers to peacefully disperse their blockade, but they responded by hurling bricks at the police.
“One police inspector was injured. In self-defense, the industrial police used sound grenades and rubber bullets to restore order," he added.
Protesters claimed that two of their group members were injured during the police intervention.
The protesting workers said that they worked for meagre wages and had to face police batons, tear gas, and rubber bullets for demanding their rightful dues.
Despite working hard for 10 to 12 hours daily, they are not receiving their payments on time.
Mostafizur Rahman Sayim, an official of the Human Resources Department of Anwara Knit Composite factory, said that the workers arrived at the factory in the morning but did not join work and staged a peaceful sit-in.
Later, they began protesting for their accrued annual leave payment. Despite assurances that the due payments would be settled within the current month after discussions with higher authorities, the workers blocked the highway and protested, he added.