Four people were injured, including policemen, as workers of a ready-made garment (RMG) factory engaged in a clash on Saturday in Gazipur.
As part of the ongoing RMG unrest, workers of SM Knit Wires Limited factory in the Shirirchala area of Gazipur Sadar upazila took position in the street in the morning.
Wishing to remain anonymous, one of the protesters said the demonstration was part of the movement ongoing in various garment factories across different parts of Gazipur.
On Thursday, at 10am, the factory director Ali Hossain, urging all workers not to protest, assured them that the factory authorities would abide by the government's decisions concerning their demands.
Subsequently, the factory announced a holiday for the rest of the day at 11am. However, in the afternoon, some workers (from the dyeing section) were called back to work.
Upon learning that a section of workers were called to work on Thursday, the workers protested on Saturday morning by entering the factory premises and sitting peacefully on the production floor.
Later they decided to take their demonstration to the streets and and encouraged employees from the nearby Esrotex garment factory to join their protest.
Some workers from Esrotex expressed solidarity and attempted to march towards the Meghna Knit Composite garment factory in the Masterbari area of Sreepur upazila.
During this attempt, the police intervened, resulting in a chase. At this time, two workers sustained bullet wounds.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Additional SP) of Gazipur Sadar Circle Mirajul Islam said that the workers unexpectedly gathered on the highway, intending to stop vehicles and create disturbances.
He emphasized that the police did not initiate the confrontation. It was the workers who pelted brickbats by the workers.
The police have detained nine individuals in connection with the incident, he said.
Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gazipur Industrial Zone Police-2 Sarwar Alam said that workers from SM Knit Wires Limited factory were attempting to protest without working. Police attempted to persuade them, but when they joined other workers on the highway, the police intervened.