Savar EPZ bursts into violence, 100 hurt

FE Team | Published: September 15, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

SAVAR, Sept 14 (UNB/bdnews24.com): Over 100 people, including 18 police, were injured in a fierce clash between policemen and garment workers in Dhaka EPZ here Friday following a rumour over killing of a worker.
Two workers were, however, arrested for their involve ment in the incident in the apparel hub. Police filed a case with Ashulia thana.
Police said the pitched-battle erupted at about 9:00 am when police charged baton on the demonstrating garment workers as they turned violent and barred a workers'-loaded vehicle from entering the factory.
DEPZ sources said anger sparked off among the workers of export-oriented "Feather Light Ltd" Thursday by a rumour that authority had killed and concealed its workers' leader Helal to curb their movement.
Following the unrest, the authority closed the factory, owned by former state minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku.
A police official said, "Tension is prevailing in some of the DEPZ factories for the last few days over paying of salaries and allowances. And, the rumour over the killing added fuel to the fire."
Workers Momin, Kamal and Shahin said Helal had a heated exchange over the cell phone with Sujon, an official of the factory at around 11:00 am Thursday. Helal went missing after 5:00 pm, leading the workers to believe he had been killed.
As the word flew around that some workers had seen the body in the bathroom of the factory before the authorities hid it, the workers became agitated and attacked the factory.
The authorities claimed Helal was alive and the workers asked them to bring him before them by Friday morning.
About 3,000 workers gathered at the main gate of the EPZ's new zone at around 7:00 am and started shouting for Helal.
They stopped workers of other factories entering the EPZ and were soon joined by workers of other factories. Finally, some 5,000 workers proceeded to the old zone of the EPZ in a procession.
Security workers obstructed the demonstrators when they tried to enter the old zone but had their offices attacked and ransacked.
The workers also ransacked Honour Way, Lenny Fashion, Padax Jeans, Actors Sporting factory, Dutch Bangla Bank and some other buildings at the EPZ gate.
They also blockaded Nabinagar-Kaliakoir Highway and damaged a number of vehicles, disrupting communication for two hours.
The police and joint forces rushed to the spot and the law-enforcers fired tear gas canisters to disperse the workers.
The workers threw brickbats at the police and at least 50 workers including Shafiqul, Bilkis, Kamrul, Delwar, Kamal, Jharna, Mizan, Khairul, Iti, Sufia and Anil were injured.
At about 10:30am police reinforcements were rushed to the spot and the workers retreated. Traffic began to move on the road at 11:00 am.
Authorities shut down Honour Way, Lenny Fashion, Padax Jeans, Actors Sporting and Feather Light factory after the violence.
Later BEPZA Chairman Ashraf Abdullah Yusuf, Savar Army camp commander Lieutenant Colonel Mahbub-ur-Rahman, the district police super and high officials of BEPZA and police visited the spot.
BEPZA Chairman Ashraf Abdullah Yusuf told journalists, "The incident of killing was a rumour. An evil quarter is trying to fan labour unrest by spreading rumour."
The BEPZA chairman, however, said he did not know of whereabouts of Helal, the missing worker. "We are trying to find him out."
Administrative officer of Feather Light factory Tofail Hossain told journalists the factory authorities had announced reward for anyone who could have information on Helal's whereabouts.
Officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station Kamrul Islam also dismissed the allegation of killing of a worker as rumour.
"A quarter is trying to destabilise the situation by spreading rumour.
"The situation was calm now," he added
Helal, however, remained untraced Friday.