A female worker died and over 50 others were injured in fierce clashes between workers of two Readymade Garments (RMG) factions in Jirabo area under Ashulia Industrial zone on Tuesday.
The clashes erupted following a mass layoff at one of the factories named Mascot Garments ltd.
The deceased female workers identified as Rokeya Akhtar was an employee of Mascot Garments Ltd. She had been working in the factory since December 1, in 2021 as an assistant machine operator. She was the wife of Masud Rana of Gudarhat area of Gaibandha sadar upazila.
Identity of the injured workers could not be confirmed as off filing of the report at 7:30pm.
Meanwhile, workers from several factories in Gazipur staged angry demonstrations with various demands, including salary and other benefits. During the demonstrations, the workers also put blockades on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Tongi in Gazipur district since the morning on Tuesday causing traffic movement halt in the area.
The incidents took place when most of the factories started opening after over two weeks of continuous unrest among the workers.
UNB reports; workers said workers took position in front of Muscot Garment demanding reopening of the factory.
As police and army personnel disperse them the agitated workers hurled brickbats at Southern and Radiance factories, triggering a clash among workers of the three factories that left over 50 others wounded.
However, Superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police Nurani Ferdous Disha said, the factory had already been closed under section 13/1 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.
“The workers came to the factory on Tuesday morning to see if the factory was open and saw that there was a notice hanged that mentioned that all the workers have been laid off”, said Nurani Ferdous Disha.
She said, at one stage, the workers started throwing brickbats at their factory (Mascot Garments ltd) and also at several other factories including Radiance Garments, Southern Knitting.
Dhaka-Mymensingh
highway blocked
in Gazipur
The agitating workers also called upon the workers of other factories to join the protests with them. However, in response, the workers of other factories started throwing brickbats at them which caused casualties.
The clash started around 9:30am where Rokeya Akhtar was severely injured. When taken to the local PMK hospital, the doctor on duty declared her dead, said SP Nurani Ferdous Disha.
She said that the industrial police and army personnel headed to the location after receiving the news of the clash. However, the workers had blocked the Bishmail-Jirabo road.
Rina, a worker from Mascot Garments Ltd who witnessed the incident, informed the media that the workers began protesting after discovering that the factory had remained closed for three days without any communication from the authorities.
She claimed that while the workers were protesting in front of the factory, a group of young men wearing lungis, and holding sticks, came from the direction of the nearby Radiance Knitwear Limited and began throwing bricks at the protesting workers, leading to a clash between the two sides.
"At one point, a brick struck Rokeya Begum, a worker from the factory, on the head, causing her to be critically injured," she added.
SP Nurani said that the industrial area was calm since morning and the workers of other factories joined the work. There was no news of any other factory closure till 11:30am, she added.
RMG Workers block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway
Meanwhile, workers of several factories at Tongi in Gazipur district staged angry demonstrations with their various demands, including salary and other benefits.
The workers also put blockades on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Tongi in Gazipur leading to a severe traffic congestion.
At one stage, workers from many factories at Tongi, Chandra in Kaliakoir upazila, Chakrabarti, and Shirishchala in Gazipur Sadar also took to the streets in the morning, protesting wage issues.
The road blockage stretched from Beximco to Zirani, bringing traffic to a standstill and affecting commuters in the region.
At Seasons Dresses Limited, located in Tongi's Khapara area, workers demanded their overdue salaries for the month of July.
Baha Uddin Chowdhury Bakr, who claimed himself the owner of one of the factories, said, "The salaries have been disbursed, but due to issues in the banking channel, the workers have not yet received them. As a result, the workers blocked the highway this morning."
Mosharraf Hossain, senior assistant superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police said, "Efforts are being made to communicate with the factory owners. At present, the highway is blocked."
Workers in Chandra and Chakrabarti on the Dhaka-Tangail highway also protested over unpaid wages. Workers from Mahmud Jeans Limited and Niagara Textile Limited in Chandra voiced their demands, while workers from Beximco Group in Chakrabarti staged a demonstration seeking their due wages.
In Shirishchala, under Joydebpur police station in Gazipur Sadar upazila, workers of Executive High Fashion Limited have gone on strike.
The protesting workers reported that the factory employs around 1,500 workers. Previously, they had presented several demands to the factory management.
On the night of 16 September, around 10pm, as factory employee Mohammad Arman was returning home from the office, some unidentified individuals assaulted him and snatched his wallet and mobile phone.
The workers suspect that the factory authorities had their people plan the assault because of the demands presented by the workers.
In Rajendrapur, under Gazipur Sadar police station, workers of Tasmia Herbal Limited are staging a strike, demanding an eight-point increase in wages.
Since 8:30am on Tuesday, they have been on strike, creating an uproar inside the factory. The industrial police are trying to mediate between the factory management and the workers.
Meanwhile, workers of Veritas Pharmaceutical Limited are protesting with a nine-point demand for wage increases under the Anti-Discrimination Workers' Movement.
Md Imran Ahmed, additional superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Zone-2, said, "The unrest started in several factories in the morning. Solutions have been reached with some after discussions between the workers and the management. Talks are still ongoing with others, and we hope the issues will be resolved soon."
