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Violence stops RMG hubs

Production suspended for a day in 350 factories; 150 business establishments vandalised

Staff Correspondent
At least 350 garment factories in Savar, Ashulia and Fatulla suspended production yesterday after RMG workers clashed with police injuring over 100 people.
The angry labourers damaged nearly 150 business establishments and vandalised more than 50 vehicles.
The factories called off production after the workers demonstrated against the new wage structure for the second consecutive day demanding a minimum wage of Tk 5,000. Three other factories in Ashulia were shut down indefinitely.
Witnesses said the labourers put barricades on the main roads in Savar, Ashulia and Fatullah bringing vehicular movement to a halt for several hours.
Police fired more than 100 rubber bullets and lobbed over 30 teargas canis-
ters. They also used water cannons and charged baton on the agitating workers to disperse them.
Tension prevailed in the areas prompting the authorities to deploy Rab and police personnel there.
Several hundred workers attacked Irish Fashion at Kathgora in Ashulia shortly after 8:30am and put barricades FROM PAGE 1 on the road in front of the factory. The authorities of 150 factories at Kathgora announced holiday following the incident.
Labourers of the closed factories joined the agitators and attacked other factories at Jamgora and Jirabo. They barricaded the Dhaka-Tangail Road using huge logs and burning tyres.
They clashed with police after the law enforcers charged baton on them. Police fired rubber bullets and used water cannon to disperse the workers, who retaliated by pelting them with brickbats.
The labourers rampaged through the streets damaging factories and vehicles.
The authorities of the facto-ries at Narasinghapur, Nischintapur, Jamgora, Beron, Ghoshbagh, Bypile, Palashbari and adjacent areas hung holi-daynotices at about 10:30am.
Shed Fashion Ltd, Shed Fashion International Ltd, and P&O Attires Ltd at Beron were shut indefinitely.
Clashes between labourers and police broke out in Shimultola area at about 11:30am after several thousand workers of factories at Jamgora brought out a procession from Bypile.
When police tried to stop them by charging baton and firing rubber bullets, the workers attacked the law enforcers with sticks and hurled brickbats at police.
About 75 people, including 20 policemen, were injured the clash that ended at around 12:00noon.
The clash prompted the authorities of at least 150 factories to suspend production yesterday.
Mahbubur Rahman, officerin-charge of Savar Police Station, said vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Tangail highway remained suspended for nearly half an hour.
On Saturday, police filed a case against 3,060 workers for attacking law enforcers, obstructing law enforcers from performing duties, vandalising vehicles and setting them on fire the same day in Ashulia.
Mohammad Shahidullah, deputy director of Shed Fashion, filed another case against 646 workers for attacking the factory and damaging property.
CLASHES IN FATULLA
At least 50 people including three policemen were injured after RMG workers clashea with locals and lawenforcers.
Production of most factories in the area were suspended followingthe clashes.
Witnesses said the workers took to the streets in the morning demanding a hike in wage and release of Montu Ghosh, adviser of Garment Sramik Trade Union Kendra.
Workers of Pall Mall, Microfiber, Liberty, Mitsuwear and Cadtrex in Katherpul area demonstrated inside the facto-
ries in the morning. Their attempt to take to the streets was frustrated by the armed policemen deployed in the factories.
Labourers of Metro Garments came out of the factory around midday and pelted the law enforcers with stones.
When they tried to block the Dhaka-Narayanganj link road, policemen charged baton to disperse them. Locals joined the police and clashed with the agitators.
Locals accused the workers ofattackingtheirhouses.
The workers of Sinha and Opex in Sonargaon also demonstrated inside the factories, sources said.
Jibon Kanti Sarkar, officerin-charge of Fatulia Model Police Station, said police dispersed the protesters when they tried to block the highway.
Police and Rab personnel were deployed in the area to ward off further clash.
PORTCITYVIOLENCE
RMG workers went berserk at Kalurghat in Chittagong yesterday demanding a pay hike. Workers from at least eight garment factories demonstrated on city streets.
Some agitators reportedly damaged windowpanes and doors of Orchid Garments, Azim Mannan Garments and LegacyGarments.
HOMEMINISTRYMEETING The core committee of home ministry in a meeting last night decided to take stern action against those who will indulge in vandalism and damaging property following the RMG wage issue.
With Home Minister Sahara Khatun in chair, the meet was also attended by State Minister for Home affairs Shamsul Alam Tuku and senior officials from law enforcement and intelligenceagencies.