Garment workers clashed with police in Ashulia of Savar on Monday during protests demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 and other benefits. During the clashes, protesters set fire to a covered van belonging to a garment factory.
The clashes erupted after 10:00am in the Narsinghpur and Nischintapur areas along the Abdullahpur-Baipail road, prompting police to fire tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the demonstrators.
According to witnesses, workers initially gathered in front of Ananta and later Ha-Meem factories in the morning. They attempted to block the road to press home their demands, leading to tensions with law enforcement personnel and eventually violent clashes.
Police fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the protesters. However, repeated chases and counter-chases continued in the area.
At around 11:10am, protesters set fire to a covered van belonging to a garment factory in front of Nadi Filling Station in Narsinghpur.
Earlier, around 9:30am, workers of New Age factory in Narsinghpur staged a demonstration after stopping work, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 along with other benefits. Workers from nearby factories later joined the protests.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Shoaeb Ahmed of Industrial Police-1 was injured after being struck by brickbats during the clashes.
Industrial Police-1 Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations and Intelligence) Shoaeb Ahmed said police and other law enforcement agencies were working to bring the situation under control.
As tensions escalated, most factories in the industrial area declared holidays for the day.
As of 11:30am, workers and law enforcement personnel remained in a tense face-off at the scene. No major casualties had been reported immediately.
Additional police personnel were deployed in and around the area to prevent further violence and maintain law and order.
Sun News/ rabbi
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