20 injured as garment workers clash with cops

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between the workers of a readymade garment (RMG) factory in Bandar Upazila of Narayanganj district on Saturday. Sources said several hundred workers of a garment factory of Partex Group gathered on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway at Madanpur in front of their factory around 7.00am to stage demonstration for wage hike. At one stage, they started hurling stone chips at police and passing vehicles, creating a panic in the area. The traffic was disrupted for about two hours on the busy highway due to the demonstration and attack on the vehicles. A chase and counter chase took place between police and the agitating workers and at one stage a reinforcement of police arrived in the area and cops charged baton to disperse the unruly demonstrators who brick-batted and attacked the law-enforcers with sticks. At least 20 people, including inmates of some passing vehicles, were injured. Police brought the situation under control around 10:00am, according to a news agency.