20 RMG units at Ashulia shut production

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Aggrieved workers of different RMG units at Ashulia belt staged demonstration and engaged in clashes with law-enforcers Monday. — Focus Bangla

FE Report Several garment factories in Ashulia were again shut for Monday in the face of violent workers' protest, demanding a hike in their monthly wages, owners and police said. At least 30 workers were also injured when the protesters clashed with the law enforcers in the morning, resulting in suspension of production at the units two days after they resumed manufacturing of apparel products. Police and witnesses said the fresh trouble erupted at about 8:20am when thousands of workers of Ha-Meem Group went out of its several factories and blockaded the Dhaka-Tangail Highway that connects the country's northern districts with the capital. Ha-Meem Group is one of the country's major apparel producers with a workforce of around 12000. Talking to the FE, Officer-in-Charge of Ashulia Police Station, Sheikh Md Badrul Alam, said workers of Ha-Meem Group entered into the factories in the morning. "But within 20 minutes, the workers came out of the group's multi-storied building over better wages and halted traffic movements on the highway for nearly one hour," he said, adding that workers of nearby units also joined the demonstration. When the police personnel deployed there to face troublemakers tried to disperse them from the street, the protesting workers became violent and engaged in vandalism, the Ashulia police chief said. Police fired tear gas shells, rubber bullets and used water canons on the protesters for maintaining order and pro-production atmosphere at the country's key apparel industrial hub. Protesters alleged that the police suddenly swooped on them while they were staging a peaceful demonstration there. "Our logical demand cannot be overlooked by using the police force," a protester said, adding that many of their colleagues were wounded in the police action. A senior official of the trouble-hit group said the workers resorted to violence despite the management accepted almost all their demands. "The group has already increased the attendance bonus to Tk 350 from its previous Tk 300," he added. Managing Director of Envoy Group which is also housed at the violence-hit apparel area, Abdus Salam Murshedy, said they sat on an emergency meeting over the matter and requested the government agencies concerned for taking necessary measures to ensure smooth production there. Although the government announced new wage board for the workers last week, they were demanding increase in their salaries, he said. "We will follow whatever the decision the wage board gives us," said Murshedy, also former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). Following the chaos, around 20 garment factories like Ha-Meem Group, Ananta Group and Metlar, suspended production for the day. Our Narayanganj correspondent adds: At least ten workers of a sweater factory were injured in a clash between police and workers at Panchaboti area under Fatulla police station on Monday evening in Narayanganj. All of a sudden all the workers of Pioneer Sweater Factory took to the street demanding reappointment of the sacked workers and also increased wages. On information both industrial and Fatulla thana police rushed to the spot. A local labour leader, Kawsar Ahmed Polash, wanted to talk to the management but the factory owner did not agree. Then the workers started demonstration on Dhaka-Munshiganj Road resulting in the disruption in traffic movement. Police opened fire and the situation became normal, OC Fatulla said. The factory is being closed for today.