Garment factories reopen in Gazipur, several hurt in clash with police

Garment factories in Gazipur reopened on Saturday after a few days of closure amid RMG workers‍‍` protests demanding an increase in wages.  

Additional law enforcement personnel have been deployed to prevent untoward incidents and violence, said Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gazipur Industrial Zone Police-2.

"Most of the factories have been opened. Several workers have been arrested, and a case has been registered in connection with the violence and arson of the last few days,” he said.

However, several workers were injured in a clash as police obstructed them during their attempt to block the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway this morning in the new market area of the district‍‍`s Sadar upazila demanding wage hike.

Police dispersed the workers by using tear gas and sound grenades.

 Md Asad, Assistant Superintendent of Police of Gazipur Industrial Zone Police-2 (Sreepur Sub-Zone), said he and Inspector Abdur Noor were injured.

"We tried to talk to them first. But when they tried to block the highway without listening to us, the police stopped them. When the agitated workers threw bricks at the police, Inspector Abdur Noor, along with me, was injured,” he said.

Garment factory workers have been demonstrating in Dhaka and elsewhere for the past few days, starting on October 23, demanding a minimum wage of Tk 23,000 per month.

In Gazipur, the demonstration that began in Telir Chala area of Mouchak spread to other nearby areas. There were incidents of arson attacks on cars, factories, and shopping malls, and several factories were damaged.

Following the unrest, most of the garment factories were declared closed.

Later, government officials, factory owners, BGMEA leaders, and labor unions held a meeting on the issue. A wage board has been formed, and the minimum wage for workers will be determined and announced in November, with effect from December.