Over 60 factories were vandalised by RMG workers in Gazipur on Sunday during a protest demanding the fixing of their minimum wage at Tk8,000, leading to a forced suspension of production of around 160 units.
The agitated workers in Konabari area had set fire to Jamuna Denims Limited and Jamuna Knitting Garments, sister concerns of Jamuna Group. The fabrics warehouse of the factory was set on fire but the factory authorities managed to douse the fire with the help of locals.
According to police and witnesses, thousands of garment workers of different RMG factories of Gazipur including Safipur, Kaliakoir, Mouchak, Konabari and Tongi took to the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in the morning and vandalised over 20 vehicles including buses and pick-up vans.
In the violent protest, at least 100 people including 20 police personal sustained injuries during a chase and counter chase between police and agitated workers.
Police fired several rubber bullets to disperse the protesters from the spot. Normalcy returned to the area in the evening and highway communications was re-established after the law enforcers managed to take control of the street.
Officer-in-Charge Omar Faruk of Kaliakoir police station said they had to charge batons and fire several rounds of teargas canisters in a bid to calm the situation and bring it under control.
Md Nasiruddin, a BGMEA director, said: “The workers of Gazipur area in the morning suddenly went on rampage and vandalised around 60 factories.” He said: “The workers claimed that the government has declared new wage but the owners were not implementing it which is why they went on such a rampage.”
“Areas such as Safipur, Kaliakoir, Mouchak, Konabari were free from violence but after on Sunday’s [Saturday’s] grand rally held at Dhaka, workers went wild,” he added. BGMEA Vice President Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune that the unexpected violence centring wage hike was totally irrational as the government has formed wage board and the committee would recommend wage hike and factory owners would follow it
Moniruzzaman, sub-inspector of Tongi police station, said: “We found presence of outsiders during the protest who night have instigated the incident and provoked the garment workers.” He also said there was no presence of local workers’ leaders.
Meanwhile, in a meeting on Sunday evening, Gazipur based RMG factory owners demanded security to run their factories. They said if the government failed to ensure the security it would bring more difficulties to the garment sector.
