RMG unrest spreads in Ashulia, N’ganj

More than 200 injured as workers, cops clash; rubber bullets, tear gas used; factories, shops vandalised again
More than 200 RMG workers and 20 policemen were injured in clashes between the two sides in Ashulia after the labourers protested a new wage hike, which they say is still too low.
Meanwhile, garment workers and activists of Communist Party of Bangladesh clashed with police in Narayanganj leaving at least 55 people injured.
The labourers in Ashulia demanded that the government fix the minimum monthly pay at Tk 5,000 with effect from August 1.
Police arrested 12 workers on the EPZ-Abdullapur road, the scene of violence.
Several garment factories had announced holiday today fearing further clash, reports a correspondent from Ashulia.
Vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Tangail highway remained suspended for about four hours from 11:00am after the angry workers put barricades on the road.
They attacked several business establishments and vandalised vehicles including two police vans.
Witnesses said the labourers of Shed Fashion Ltd, AM Design Ltd, Medlar Apparels Ltd in Jamgora, Rising Group in Kathgora and New Age Garments in Narsinghapur went on work abstention at about 10:00am to protest the new wage structure.
They took to the streets demanding Tk 5,000 as minimum wage. Hundreds of workers from 20 garment factories, including Envoy Garments and Sterling Garments in Jamgora area joined them shortly after 11:00am.
They put barricades on the road bringing the traffic to a halt.
The workers pelted law enforcers with brickbats triggering chase and counter-chase between the two sides.
Mirza Hasan, managing director of Envoy Design, said the employees joined work on time as usual. But several thousand outsiders stormed the factory breaking the main gate at around 11:00am and vandalised it.
The factory belongs to Envoy Group, owned by Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
Additional Superintendent of Police Mozammel Haque said they had difficulties in bringing the situation under control as law enforcers were outnumbered by agitators.
At least 20 policemen were injured in the clashes, he said.
Superintendent of Police Iqbal Bahar, the additional superintendent of police and the assistant superintendent of police in Dhaka and Kazi Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station, were wounded.
Sirajul was admitted to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar while SP Iqbal got released after receiving first aid.
Law enforcers were deployed in the area to ward off further clash.
Meantime, traffic on the Dhaka-Narayanganj link road remained suspended for over three hours after several hundred RMG workers put barricades on the road protesting the arrest of Montu Ghosh, adviser of Garment Sramik Trade Union Kendra.
Montu is also general secretary of Narayanganj district unit of CPB.
The workers fought pitched battles with law enforcers after they charged baton on them. They vandalised at least 12 factories in the area.
Police lobbed nine teargas canisters and fired 55 rounds, reports our Narayanganj correspondent.
At least 40 people were injured while two of them received bullets.
Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the road due to the clash.
Witnesses said nearly 100 workers staged demonstrations near Shibu Market shortly after 10:00am protesting Montu’s arrest.
They also demanded implementation of the new wage structure from August.
Montu was arrested at about 3:00am yesterday for interrogation with links to the violence by garment workers in Dhaka on Friday, said police.
Later, hundreds of workers from different garment factories joined them and blocked the road.
Law enforcers rushed to the scene and dispersed the workers at about 1:30pm.
Police also charged baton on CPB activists at a rally in front of the deputy commissioner’s office at 12:00noon leaving at least 15 people injured.
Several thousand workers rampaged through different parts of the capital and Gazipur on Friday, rejecting the new wage structure announced by the government the previous day.
The demanded Tk 5,000 as minimum wage with effect from August.
They also damaged 200 business establishments, including several garment factories, and seven vehicles at Mohakhali, Tejgaon industrial area, Banani and Gulshan Avenue.
Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain announced the new pay structure on Thursday for around 3.5 million RMG workers.
The minimum pay at the entry level had been fixed at Tk 3,000.
The new wage structure will take effect on November 1, the minister said.
OWNERS DEMAND SECURITY
The owners of Ashulia-based garment factories yesterday demanded that the government ensure security so they can continue production.
They made the demand at a meeting with Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
“We are feeling insecure to run the factories. We are not seeing any solution,” Murshedy told The Daily Star after the meeting at the BGMEA office.
The owners said they would incur huge losses if they fail to deliver goods to the buyers in time.

Courtesy of The Daily Star