150 more RMG units shut: 60 hurt in clashes

FE Report Nearly 60 garment workers and policemen were injured Wednesday in the latest spell of violence in the country's key apparel manufacturing hubs leading to suspension of production at around 150 more ready-made garment (RMG) factories. The workers vandalised vehicles and factories and engaged in clashes with law enforcers during the protests that rocked the RMG belts in Gazipur, Narayanganj and Ashulia. Police and witnesses said the latest trouble erupted at about 8:30 am in Chandra and Palli Bidyut areas under Gazipur's Kaliakoir upazila, when workers of the garment factories came out on the streets and blockaded the Dhaka-Tangail Highway demanding Tk 8,000 as the minimum monthly wage. As police came up to clear the highway, the protestors became violent and started attacking the adjacent factories leading to further spread of the trouble. Factories like Mahmud Jeans Limited, Niagara Textile Limited, Apex Limited and Dressman Limited in Palli Bidyut and Chandra areas were vandalised during the rowdy protests, Officer-in-Charge of the Kaliakoir Police Station Omar Faruk told the FE. "Then, the violence spread to Mouchak, Shafipur, Konabari and Kashimpur areas," he said, adding that authorities of more than 70 factories declared their units shut for the day to avert any large-scale vandalism. Talking to the FE, Director of Industrial Police-2 (Gazipur) Abul Khayer said workers of several factories, including Machihata Group, Pall-Mall Group, Max Sweater, Meem Noon Knitwear and Jeans Plus, took to the street at the Zirani point at about 9:30am. "They chanted slogans in favour of their demand and damaged several units like Northern Fashions, Sathi Fashions, Doreen Garments and Ideal Garments," he said, adding that the law enforcers charged batons and lobbed several dozen teargas shells to disperse them from the highway. He also said nearly 50 factories in Zirani, Bismail and Kashimpur areas were closed for the day because of the violence. At least 25 workers, including two policemen, were injured during the chase and counter chase. At the same time, RMG workers of the Radiant Apparel and a factory of the Mascot Group in the Ashulia industrial belt off the capital city also staged protests. The violence in the garment sector also continued in Narayanganj as several thousand workers from six factories staged demonstration by blockading the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link road in front of the Shibu Market at Fatullah in the morning. As police tried to disperse them, the protestors launched a counter attack with sticks and brickbats that left at least 15 people injured. Around 10 vehicles were ransacked by the protestors. A senior official of the Industrial Police-3 (Narayanganj) said nearly 20 factories at Fatullah were shut following the skirmishes. The ongoing violence in the RMG sector came at a time when the manufacturers were making serious efforts to recover from the two worst industrial disasters -- Tazreen Fashions and Rana Plaza. Garment manufacturers who make clothing for top global retailers like Wal-Mart, H&M, Tesco and Carrefour, contributed nearly 80 per cent of Bangladesh's overall exports worth US$ 26 billion.