Garment workers, police clash at Kanchpur: 50 hurt
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
FE Report
At least 50 people, including 10 policemen, were injured Tuesday after a fierce clash between apparel workers and law enforcers at Kanchpur industrial hub as they blockaded Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, demanding reinstatement of their fellow workers.
Police and eye witnesses said nearly 7,000 workers of SA Fashion and Apparel started demonstration at the factory compound at about 8:15am demanding immediate reinstatement of some of their colleagues who were sacked by the authorities earlier.
As the factory management kept mum on their demand, the workers became violent and put barricades on the busy highway, which connects southeastern part of the country with the capital that caused immense sufferings to the road users.
Agitators alleged that the factory authorities recently sacked eight workers without any reason but the authorities rejected their claims saying that the workers were terminated on charge of violating discipline at the factory.
The police personnel guarding the factory were engaged in chase and counter-chase soon after the workers went on the rampage.
The riot police lobbed rubber bullets, teargas shells and charged batons to disperse the protestors who hurled brickbats and stones.
The injured were taken to adjacent medical centres for treatment.
A protester said the police personnel suddenly attacked them while they were staging a peaceful demonstration in front of the factory gate that made the workers violent.
"The police team also opened fire on us injuring a number of workers. The police did it following the instructions of the owners. We want fair investigation into the incident," he said.
Officer-in-charge of Sonargaon police station Younus Ali rejected the allegation and said they fired 19 rounds of bullet and lobbed several teargas shells only to disperse the demonstrators who became unruly during the protest.
"The workers have attacked the policemen seeing our presence when we were trying to maintain law and order. Ten policemen were also hurt in the clash," Mr. Ali said.
At least 50 people, including 10 policemen, were injured Tuesday after a fierce clash between apparel workers and law enforcers at Kanchpur industrial hub as they blockaded Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, demanding reinstatement of their fellow workers.
Police and eye witnesses said nearly 7,000 workers of SA Fashion and Apparel started demonstration at the factory compound at about 8:15am demanding immediate reinstatement of some of their colleagues who were sacked by the authorities earlier.
As the factory management kept mum on their demand, the workers became violent and put barricades on the busy highway, which connects southeastern part of the country with the capital that caused immense sufferings to the road users.
Agitators alleged that the factory authorities recently sacked eight workers without any reason but the authorities rejected their claims saying that the workers were terminated on charge of violating discipline at the factory.
The police personnel guarding the factory were engaged in chase and counter-chase soon after the workers went on the rampage.
The riot police lobbed rubber bullets, teargas shells and charged batons to disperse the protestors who hurled brickbats and stones.
The injured were taken to adjacent medical centres for treatment.
A protester said the police personnel suddenly attacked them while they were staging a peaceful demonstration in front of the factory gate that made the workers violent.
"The police team also opened fire on us injuring a number of workers. The police did it following the instructions of the owners. We want fair investigation into the incident," he said.
Officer-in-charge of Sonargaon police station Younus Ali rejected the allegation and said they fired 19 rounds of bullet and lobbed several teargas shells only to disperse the demonstrators who became unruly during the protest.
"The workers have attacked the policemen seeing our presence when we were trying to maintain law and order. Ten policemen were also hurt in the clash," Mr. Ali said.