Garment workers barricade Dhaka-Sylhet highway

Narayanganj, Sept 25 (UNB) - Agitated garment workers Tuesday morning put up barricade on Dhaka-Sylhet highway and damaged a number of vehicles following the death of a female garment worker in a road accident in Sonargaon upazila. Unruly workers also injured at least 20 people, including seven police, while the law enforcers tried to calm down the commotion. Police said a bus of ‘Meghalay Transport’ ran over three workers of Joya Garments at Kanchpur in Sonargaon upazila at about 6:45am, killing one on the spot and injuring two others. The deceased was identified as Jahanara Begum. Injured Razib and Sohrab were admitted to a local hospital. The accident sparked off violence as the angry workers of Square, Joya, Sajib and Sinha garments took to the street at about 7am. The enraged workers put up barricade on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, disrupting traffic for hours. They also damaged a number of vehicles and set afire a bus of Meghalay Transport. As they tried to attack Sinha Garments, on-duty ansars shot blank fire to disperse the agitated workers. On information, police, rushed to the scene to tackle the situation. But, the workers attacked them with sticks and pelted brick bats, leaving at least 20 people including seven police injured. Later, RAB and army reinforcement alongwith police brought the situation under control at about 9:30am.