A group of agitators, protesting against the death of two workers and demanding wage hike, on Tuesday set fire to a traffic police box, an electronic showroom, a private hospital, and several vehicles in Gazipur.
At this time, a clash ensued between the workers and police in Chandana, resulting in chase and counter chase.
The incident took place in Chandra and Safipur area of Kaliakair upazila on the Dhaka-Tangail highway on Tuesday afternoon.
According to eyewitnesses and the police, the agitated workers set fire to a traffic police box in Safipur. They also vandalized a Walton Plaza showroom and Safipur Tanha Hospital and several local shops.
The officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station and fire service personnel are present at the scene to contain the fire at the police box and the hospital.
Shahidul Islam, in-charge of Kaliakoir's Mouchak police outpost, said that the workers set fire to the police box. He said police are actively working to restore law and order situation in the area.
Two RMG factories on fire
Miscreants set two garment factories on fire in Purbachandra area in Kaliakair upazila.
They torched around ten vehicles including motorcycles and private cars inside the factories.
Iftekhar Raihan, station officer of Kaliakair fire service confirmed the matter.
He said that a gang of miscreants attacked the factories, carried out vandalism there and set vehicles inside the factories on fire.
The fire was brought under control after a two-hour frantic effort.
A group of agitated workers torched a goods-laden truck and a pick-up van on Dhaka-Tangail highway in Chandra area around 1:30pm.
When the news of their movement spread to the surrounding factories, taking advantage of the situation, a group of miscreants first entered and vandalized the garment factory of Fortis Garments Limited in Purbha Chandra (Boardmill) area of Kaliakair.
Meanwhile, around five motorcycles, a microbus and three private cars inside the factory were set on fire.
Later, they entered the “Liz fashion Garment Factory” and set fire to the factory gate, a minibus, four private cars and two containers.
When the police chased the workers, they left, said the official.
On information, a unit of Kaliakoir fire service reached the spot and brought the fire under control around 2.30pm after two hours of efforts.
Jahangir Alam, an official of HR Department of “Liz Fashion” said that the attackers are not workers of the factory. Outsiders entered the factory, carried out vandalism and set vehicles on fire.
The miscreants continued to attack and set fire to vandalism.
Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gazipur Industrial Zone Police-2, said that the police are in the field to control the garment workers. They (workers) are requested to remain calm and not vandalize.
Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gazipur Industrial Zone Police-2, said that the police are in the field to control the garment workers.
Workers have been requested to remain calm and not carry out vandalizm, he added.
Movement so far
From October 23, thousands of garment workers have been protesting at major RMG industrial zones demanding Tk23,000 as monthly minimum wage, after the RMG owners proposed Tk10,400 at the Minimum Wages Board on October 22.
Currently the RMG workers' minimum wage is Tk8,000.
Though the strike was peaceful, it turned violent from October 29, and so far two workers were killed during clashes with law enforcers.
They also vandalized factories and vehicles.
As the movement rolls into eighth day, agitators blocked the road in a few places of Dhaka-Mymensingh highway by setting tires on fire and vandalizing vehicles.
Due to security concerns, vehicular movements were seen limited in the area. Long-distance transportation services have been suspended, while smaller public transports on the highways are charging additional fares.
Police were seen taking position in front of Columbia Garments located in the Bhogra Bypass area of the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway.
Some garment factory owners are seen stationed with sticks in front of various facilities along the highway.
While police are deployed in front of larger factories, local residents have taken it upon themselves to guard smaller establishments with makeshift measures.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Tuesday suggested to its member factories to close their factory units under section 13/1 of the Labour act if the ongoing unrest situation deteriorated.
