At least 38 people, including eight policemen, were injured in a clash between readymade garment workers and police near the Chittagong Export Processing Zone yesterday.
Police and local sources said workers had vandalised two RMG factories – Section Seven and Section Apparels – five vehicles, and torched a motorcycle at the CEPZ intersection around 10am. They were demanding the immediate implementation of the newly announced wage board.
Arifur Rahman Arif, inspector (intelligence) of Industrial Police in Chittagong, told the Dhaka Tribune that around 8,000 RMG workers locked into clashes with the police when they tried to disperse the agitated workers. Eight policemen had sustained injuries during the clash, he added.
The situation was brought under control after additional police from the EPZ police station went to the scene and fired blank rounds and conducted baton charges, Mostak Ahmed, additional deputy commissioner of Port Zone of Chittagong Metropolitan Police said.
The workers claimed that at least 30 of them received injuries because of the police action.
Later, RMG factory owners, the workers’ body, officials from Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authorities and law enforcement agencies conducted a meeting and decided to implement the new wage board for workers bywithin January 9, the ADC said.
After receiving the assurance, the workers withdrew their demonstration around 1:30pm.
