RMG trouble in city leaves 50 hurt, vehicles damaged

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FE Report
Around 1500 garment workers of city's Malibagh Chowdhurypara area went berserk Saturday blocking the key road for hours in support of the demand for Eid bonus.
Witnesses said around 30 vehicles were damaged and around 50 people injured during the clash between workers and police. The trouble caused serious traffic jam in Malibagh and its adjoining areas for hours together.
The agitating workers of 'Islam Dresses Ltd.' took to the street at 1:45pm and blocked road at different points from Malibagh rail crossing to Rampura Bazar as the management of the apparel factory, allegedly, said it will not pay full Eid bonus.
The violence triggered closure of more than 20 garment factories in and around the area and also the businesses came to halt due to panic.
At least 35 workers were injured as police clubbed the agitators to restore order in the area. Around 30 law enforcers including two officers of Ramna and Khilgaon thana --Doulat Akbar and SMA Zahid--also were injured as workers threw stones at them.
According to eyewitness, over 1500 workers of Islam Dresses Ltd gathered in front of the factory near to Abul Hotel in the city's Malibagh Chowdhury Para area demanding full payment of bonus at around 1:45pm on Saturday.
"For the last one week owners were telling us that we will be paid bonus today. But, today we have come to know that they will pay us one fourth of bonus only. The officials of our factory told us to gather in a floor that our owners will talk to us as we agitated inside the factory. But even after elapsing two hours none was available to talk to us," Rozina, a worker of the factory told the FE.
She further said: "Owners earlier promised to pay us bonus today (Saturday). We had no alternative but taking to the street to press home our demand."
However, another agitating worker, who is working in another nearby factory, requesting to be unnamed, said they might have to resort to street protest as their owner is not paying bonus and overtime bill.
The situation turned worse when around 2,000 workers, armed with bamboo sticks and stones, from nearby factories also joined the workers of the Islam Dresses Ltd. after rumour spread that a female worker of the factory died during police action.
But, Assistant commissioner of police Pankaj Chandra Roy told the FE that "We have found the girl worker namely Nasima Islam in sound health."
SMA Zahid, officer-in-charge (OC) of Khilgaon police station, told the FE that the situation is now under control as authorities of the factory have settled the disputed.
Owners of the affected garment factory yesterday denied the workers' allegation and said they will pay bonus.
"The workers took to the street as there was a rumour that they will not be paid with Eid bonus," director of the Islam Dresses Shakil Matin said.
"We will pay Eid bonus within September 25," he added.
The factory will continue usual production from Monday, he said adding the apparel unit will remain closed on Sunday, as the day is its weekly holiday.