30 more garment workers hurt in fresh violence

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FE Report
At least 30 garment workers were injured as agitating workers of Envoy group fought pitched battle with police for the second consecutive day Monday at Ashulia.
Some 60 garment factories at the country's biggest industrial hub Ashulia have suspended production following the unrest over workers 10-point demand, including Eid bonus, Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) sources said.
The sources said that the decision was taken collectively to stop repeat of the experiences of June 27 workers unrest that left two workers killed and hundred others injured.
Scores of factories were also vandalised, causing a loss of Tk 2.0 billion to the industry, during the four-day long rampage.
Witnesses said on Monday some 200 RMG (readymade garment) workers of Envoy group, owned by President of BGMEA Abdus Salam Murshedy, demonstrated in front of Samir Plaza and Bangabazar at Jamgora area to drum up support for their demands at about 8:00am.
At one point the agitators turned unruly and started vandalising nearby garment factories, forcing the riot police to take action on the demonstrating protesters.
The workers also chased the police by pelting stones and brick bats resulting in the clash that left at least 30 workers injured.
The workers 10-point demand include, stopping sexual harassment of female workers, enhancing the amount of Eid bonus and improving working conditions.
"We charged batons on the workers as they were creating chaos in the area," an officer of Ashulia Police Station told the FE.
The demonstrators also blockaded the Dhaka-Tangail highway creating nagging traffic congestion for an hour.
The trouble began on Sunday morning when authorities of Envoy group denied two of its workers entry into the factory compound, as they did not turn up in time that triggered the clash leaving at least 50 workers injured.
Mr Murshedy said some outsiders, particularly the jhut (rag) traders, were instigating the workers to distabalise the country's US$ 11 billion industry.