Police have filed two cases over incidents of vandalism and arson during the ongoing garment workers’ protests in Savar and Ashulia. Another case is also being prepared, while 13 people have been arrested so far in connection with the unrest.

Meanwhile, around 40 garment factories have declared holidays amid demonstrations by workers demanding, among other things, a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 and an end to illegal blacklisting.

The officers-in-charge of Savar Model Police Station and Ashulia Police Station confirmed the developments to journalists on Tuesday afternoon.

Savar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Alam said nine people had been arrested over allegations of vandalism, arson and other offences.

He added that a case was being prepared over the burning of a bus in the Tetuljhora area of Savar on Monday night.

Ashulia Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Harun-or-Rashid said two cases were filed on Monday night in connection with incidents of vandalism and arson. Four people had been arrested in connection with those incidents, he added.

Meanwhile, garment workers continued their demonstrations on Tuesday morning along the Abdullahpur-Baipail road, particularly in the Nishchintapur, Narsinghpur and Unique areas of Ashulia.

At one point, protesters threw bricks and stones at police when officers attempted to clear the road. In response, police fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.

Earlier in the morning, workers at several factories along the road stopped working but remained inside their respective premises. Some factories subsequently announced holidays from around 8:30am.

Ashulia Industrial Police-1 Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan said approximately 40 factories had declared holidays due to the prevailing situation. Workers at around 10 other factories had stopped working but remained inside the premises, he added.

Sun News/ rabbi