One worker was killed and several others injured in clashes between police and garment workers at the Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Nilphamari on Tuesday morning, following the sudden closure announcement of a factory.
The deceased was identified as Habib Islam (32), son of Dulal Hossain from Kazirhat in Songolshi Union of Nilphamari Sadar. He had been employed at Ventura Leather Manufacturing Company inside the EPZ.
Workers said that employees of Evergreen Company in the EPZ had been protesting for the past two days demanding an end to layoffs and pressing for several other issues. On Monday night, the factory authorities suddenly issued a notice declaring the plant closed.
Thousands of enraged workers locked the main gate of the EPZ on Tuesday morning, triggering tension. Soon after, clashes broke out in phases between workers and law enforcement personnel, turning the area into a battlefield.
As news spread that a worker had been killed, the protesters became more agitated and blocked the Nilphamari–Saidpur highway, halting all vehicular movement.
Dr Tanzirul Islam Farhan, an emergency unit physician at Nilphamari General Hospital, confirmed that the victim had been brought in dead with an injury mark on his chest. He added that details could only be confirmed after the autopsy. Five other injured workers are undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Repeated attempts to reach Nilphamari Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) M R Saeed for comment were unsuccessful as he did not answer phone calls.
In the closure notice, Evergreen authorities said that due to prolonged protests disrupting production and posing risk of major financial losses, the factory had been shut indefinitely from September 2 under Section 12(1) of the Bangladesh EPZ Labour Law 2019. The notice mentioned that operations would resume once the situation normalizes.
Meanwhile, the protesting workers have placed a 20-point charter of demands. These include: reducing production targets, ensuring overtime, proper leave facilities, timely payment of wages and allowances, resolving housing and promotion issues, no duty before 7 am, special benefits for pregnant workers, ending physical and mental harassment, and stopping termination over minor issues.
