SAVAR: Thousands of laid-off workers ran amok and clashed with police as they found all the garment factories in the troubled Ashulia industrial belt shut on Tuesday morning, leaving over 50 people wounded, including cops and journalists.
As the entire apparel industrial area plunged into chaos, the angry workers damaged 20-25 vehicles and set fire to one on the road nearby in a rowdy protest against the decision of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) closing down all apparel units in Ashulia area for an indefinite period from Tuesday in the wake of raging unrest.
The decision came from an emergency meeting held on Monday night at the BGMEA office in the city wake of recent labour unrest that left some factories vandalized. According to BGMEA, the decision was taken for security reasons and due to workers’ `illegal strikes`.
BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedi, who himself had his factories wrecked under the wrath of workers, told banglandews24.com.bd, “The factory owners are not feeling safe amid current volatile situation in Ashulia.”
Witnesses said the workers also blocked the busy Bipyle-Abdullahpur road with burning tyres on Tuesday morning. Police poured hot water on demonstrators to disperse them. The belligerent workers pelted the cops with brickbats and police retaliated by firing teargas shells and rubber bullets.
The clash left more than 50 people, including some policemen and three journalists, injured, reports banglanews24.com.bd correspondent Jahidur Rahman.
The journalists are staff reporter of NTV Jahidur Rahman, Savar correspondent of Baishakhi TV Abdul Halim and photojournalist of the daily Inqilab Abdur Rahman Mintu.
A series of clashes between workers and the law enforcers have continued since Saturday last, as a standoff over a recommended pay hike took a turn for the worst crisis in the export industry.
The ongoing labour unrest, with about 300 factories remaining under the lockout in Ashulia industrial area, poses a threat to the country’s export-oriented readymade garment sector.
BDST 1211 hrs June 22, 2010
Jahidur/SMS/MUA/
