Thousands of readymade garment (RMG) workers of different factories on Thursday took to the street, demanding punishment of those responsible for the collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar. Workers of different factories in Tongi, Boarbazar, Konabari and Joydebpur Chowrasta blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, Dhaka-Tangail highway and Dhaka-Gazipur Road, reports our Gazipur correspondent.
Thousands of workers from Diganta Sweater Factory, Star Light Sweaters Limited, Nexus Sweaters, Garib and Garib Sweaters and Maisha-Monisha Garment Factory brought out a procession in Joydebpur Chowrasta around 9.30 in the morning.
The angry protesters vandalised a number of vehicles in different places, following a rumour of some garment workers being assaulted by a transport leader.
They ransacked the Transport Workers’ Association’s office at Joydebpur Chowrasta, and smashed the windows of different garment factories in Naojur, Vogra, Noljani and Telipara area under Gazipur sadar upazila.
The irate workers also attacked Arong Dairy in Laxmipura on Dhaka-Gazipur Road. They set fire to the factory for keeping the establishment open on the day of mourning.
The RMG workers broke through the factory’s main gate and assaulted Ruhul Amin, its security-in-charge. They also vandalised some vehicles parked in front of the factory, and set fire to the security guard’s room and two vans belonging to the factory.
Two units of fire-fighters from Gazipur fire station doused the fire later.
Mohammed Kamruzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Joydebpur Police Station, said that additional forces have been deployed to control law and order in the area.
However, most of the RMG factories in Gazipur declared a day’s leave to avoid any untoward situation.
In the capital, thousands of garment workers blocked the highways from Rampura to Badda, demanding a general holiday to commemorate the Savar tragedy.
Thousands of RMG workers from Mogbazar, Malibagh and Rampura gathered in front of the BGMEA Bhaban around 12 noon, seeking the arrest and punishment of those responsible for the workers’ death in Wednesday’s incident. Tapan Saha, general secretary of the Garment Sramik Federation, said, “It’s a pre-planned killing. Workers were forced to go and work in the building. We demand capital punishment for the garments and building owners.”
At least 20 people, including seven policemen, were injured in clashes between workers and police in the Adamjee export processing zone (EPZ) in Narayanganj.
The clashes broke out after workers of different garment factories in Fatullah, Kanchpur and other locations blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong highway for three hours from 10 am.
Several thousand apparel workers from Shimrail also joined the picketers and vandalised a number of vehicles in the area, sparking a clash with law enforcers, reports our Narayanganj correspondent.
Workers hurled brickbats at the police, leaving seven policemen, including an assistant superintendent, injured.
The police fired eight rounds of bullets, lobbed teargas shells and baton-charged the demonstrators to bring the situation under control. At least 13 workers were injured in the incident.
-With The Independent input
