76 factories closed, 100 injured in police-workers clash in Ashulia
Sunday, 20 June 2010
FE Report
At least 76 factories were shut down and more than 100 were injured Saturday after tens of thousands of apparel workers battled with police over wage-hike at Ashulia industrial area, police said.
Owners said the factories were forced to draw shutters for the day after thousands of workers went on the rampage ransacking several plants, putting up barricades and burning tyres on the busy Dhaka-Tangail highway.
Police said law-enforcers fired rubber bullets, lobbed tear gas shells and used water canons to disperse unruly workers. They brought the situation under control after three hours of sporadic street battles.
"Tens of thousands of workers joined the protests demanding minimum monthly wage of 5,000 taka. They became extremely unruly, forcing police to fire from shot guns to disperse the workers," Ashulia police chief Sirajul Islam said.
Islam said at least 10 policemen were injured including one who was hit by a bullet allegedly fired by workers. He would not comment how many workers were injured in police action.
Union representatives said more than 100 workers were also injured, some being rushed to hospitals in Savar and Gazipur. "One of the workers had a bullet wound," a union leader said.
Police said the troubles began at a factory of Nassa Group, one of the country's top five garment exporters with plants spread all over the country.
Some 7,000 workers demonstrated at the factory demanding minimum monthly wages of 5,000 taka. They soon spilled onto the streets, putting up blockades and burning tyres and woods.
They pelted police with rocks and stones as the law-enforcers tried to remove the road barricades to ensure smooth traffic between Dhaka and the country's northern districts.
The clashes became fiercer as workers of top groups including Hameem and Sharmin joined the protests, turning the area into a battlefield and forcing manufacturers to declare holiday in a bid to stave off further troubles.
The unruly workers vandalised a number of factories and damaged cars and motor vehicles, creating panic at Ashulia and its adjoining Norshinghapur and Zamgora.
Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said at least 76 factories were closed down on Saturday.
"There is no way we can operate in this violent environment. The labour unrest is also creating panic among global buyers," he told the FE.
BGMEA has blamed "a vested quarter" for the unrest and sought increased security to protect billions of dollars of investment.
"It's not a protest. It's pre-planned violence aimed at destroying our main industry," Murshedy said.
Garment makers alleged that the workers became unruly in recent weeks after they were provoked by union leaders and non-governmental organisations.
Ashulia -- home to some of the top apparel makers -- had witnessed several violent protests in the past two weeks that forced closure of at least 12 plants.
Union leaders said the manufacturers' proposal to hike minimum monthly salaries by a paltry amount angered workers, sparking protests in main apparel hubs at Kanchpur, Ashulia and Mirpur.
According to a leaked report, the BGMEA has sought to hike the salaries by around 300 taka from its existing rate of 1662.50 taka per month. The unions have said they won't accept anything less than 5,000 taka.
The government's minimum wage board has not made any decision yet despite holding at least eight meetings with unions and manufacturers.
At least 76 factories were shut down and more than 100 were injured Saturday after tens of thousands of apparel workers battled with police over wage-hike at Ashulia industrial area, police said.
Owners said the factories were forced to draw shutters for the day after thousands of workers went on the rampage ransacking several plants, putting up barricades and burning tyres on the busy Dhaka-Tangail highway.
Police said law-enforcers fired rubber bullets, lobbed tear gas shells and used water canons to disperse unruly workers. They brought the situation under control after three hours of sporadic street battles.
"Tens of thousands of workers joined the protests demanding minimum monthly wage of 5,000 taka. They became extremely unruly, forcing police to fire from shot guns to disperse the workers," Ashulia police chief Sirajul Islam said.
Islam said at least 10 policemen were injured including one who was hit by a bullet allegedly fired by workers. He would not comment how many workers were injured in police action.
Union representatives said more than 100 workers were also injured, some being rushed to hospitals in Savar and Gazipur. "One of the workers had a bullet wound," a union leader said.
Police said the troubles began at a factory of Nassa Group, one of the country's top five garment exporters with plants spread all over the country.
Some 7,000 workers demonstrated at the factory demanding minimum monthly wages of 5,000 taka. They soon spilled onto the streets, putting up blockades and burning tyres and woods.
They pelted police with rocks and stones as the law-enforcers tried to remove the road barricades to ensure smooth traffic between Dhaka and the country's northern districts.
The clashes became fiercer as workers of top groups including Hameem and Sharmin joined the protests, turning the area into a battlefield and forcing manufacturers to declare holiday in a bid to stave off further troubles.
The unruly workers vandalised a number of factories and damaged cars and motor vehicles, creating panic at Ashulia and its adjoining Norshinghapur and Zamgora.
Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said at least 76 factories were closed down on Saturday.
"There is no way we can operate in this violent environment. The labour unrest is also creating panic among global buyers," he told the FE.
BGMEA has blamed "a vested quarter" for the unrest and sought increased security to protect billions of dollars of investment.
"It's not a protest. It's pre-planned violence aimed at destroying our main industry," Murshedy said.
Garment makers alleged that the workers became unruly in recent weeks after they were provoked by union leaders and non-governmental organisations.
Ashulia -- home to some of the top apparel makers -- had witnessed several violent protests in the past two weeks that forced closure of at least 12 plants.
Union leaders said the manufacturers' proposal to hike minimum monthly salaries by a paltry amount angered workers, sparking protests in main apparel hubs at Kanchpur, Ashulia and Mirpur.
According to a leaked report, the BGMEA has sought to hike the salaries by around 300 taka from its existing rate of 1662.50 taka per month. The unions have said they won't accept anything less than 5,000 taka.
The government's minimum wage board has not made any decision yet despite holding at least eight meetings with unions and manufacturers.