Owner seen responsible for Tongi deaths

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Two senior government figures Monday held the owner of the Tongi garment factory responsible for the three deaths in Saturday's incident of labour unrest, reports bdnews24.com.
State minister for labour Mannujan Sufian said Monday the garment factory owner must pay compensation for the victims of Saturday's clashes between workers and police at Tongi.
The minister's comments came after Monday's meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on labour at the parliament premises.
Chairman of the standing committee Israfil Alam told the news agency that the owners "were responsible" for the death of three people.
Saturday's incident of labour unrest was sparked as workers of Nippon Garments at Ershad Nagar in Tongi found the factory shut without notice. The ensuing demonstrations and violence left three dead and scores injured.
"The owner cannot easily deny compensation to the victims," Sufian said.
She said her ministry would go for action after getting the report of the probe body, which was given 15 days to investigate.
UNB adds: Tension was prevailing among the workers as twelve garment factories were closed for different reasons in the industrial area in recent time.
Sources said most of the factories were closed in the face of protest by the workers for their arrears while others for the global economic recession.
Eight of the closed factories are Fountain, Seasons Sweater, SK Fashion, Oshin & Design, Harun Fashion, Samiya Composite Knitwear, Bali Fashion and Capital.
Locals said hundreds of workers gathered in front of the closed factories to get their arrears and expressed their dissatisfaction.
Additional police personnel were deployed in Savar and Ashulia industrial areas to maintain law and order following Saturday's violent clash between police and garment workers in Tongi.