Garment workers continued their protests in Ashulia, Savar, on Tuesday, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000 and other benefits, triggering clashes with police at several points along the Abdullahpur-Baipail road.
At least 50 police personnel have been injured in the clashes so far.
Clashes, chases and counter-chases, and brickbat throwing were reported at different locations from the morning. Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters and bring the situation under control.
Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of police (SP) of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, said attempts were being made to divert the workers' movement and destabilise the situation.
"At least 50 police personnel have been injured at different locations on Tuesday while trying to bring the situation under control," he said.
Meanwhile, more than 100 garment factories had declared general holidays by Tuesday afternoon. However, production continued at most factories in the industrial area, according to industrial police.
According to Ashulia Industrial Police, workers reported to factories along the Abdullahpur-Baipail road at their scheduled time in the morning. Workers at several factories stopped working and staged sit-ins, prompting the authorities to declare holidays at more than 100 factories.
Around 8:30am, workers set tyres on fire at several points on the road in front of a Ha-Meem Group factory in the Narsinghpur area. Clashes and exchanges of brickbats between workers and police followed.
Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters, who later took positions in various alleys in the area.
Around 10:00am, workers blocked the Abdullahpur-Baipail road in the Unique area and staged demonstrations.
A visit to Nishchintapur found workers and police facing each other in an alley beside the Abdullahpur-Baipail road. Workers were seen throwing bricks and stones at police, while officers used loudspeakers to urge them to disperse.
Earlier, police had fired tear gas to clear the road after workers blocked it.
SP Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan said more than 100 factories had declared holidays amid the unrest.
He added that workers at around 20 to 25 factories had stopped working and were staying inside their workplaces.
However, he claimed that most workers wanted to continue working, but a group of outsiders was inciting some of them to leave factories after arriving for their morning shifts.
"We believe ordinary workers want to work and keep the factories running. However, a group, allegedly backed by outsiders, is trying to provoke workers arriving for their morning shifts and bring them out of factories. They are throwing bricks and stones in an attempt to destabilise the situation," he said.
Stating that industrial police were taking steps to ensure workers' safety, the SP said adequate security measures had been taken to allow them to work safely.
"However, workers at some factories have been forced to suspend operations for security reasons. Allegations that police are using force in this regard are not true," he added.