60 hurt as RMG workers-cops clash in N’ganj
Staff Reporter :
At least 60 people, including 50 garment workers and 10 police personnel, were injured in a clash between them at Fatullah in Narayanganj Sadar Upazila on Sunday afternoon.
The clash broke out around 1:00pm when the workers of Abanti Colour Tex Ltd, an export-oriented factory of Crony Group at BSCIC, were demonstrating demanding due wage for the month of March, which left some vehicles vandilised and 60 people injured.
This demonstration leads to traffic congestion about 3km of the road. Later, police fired tear shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.
The protesting workers said that although the factory was declared closed on April 8, their March wages have not been paid. They are struggling due to unpaid wage.
One of the garment workers told the media that the factory did not keep its promise to pay the salaries over mobile phones during the holiday.
Also the owner has been evasive about wages for the past few months.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Narayanganj, Zahirul Islam, said, “Workers blocked the road to demand their due wage, which created a traffic jam.
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to control the situation, resulting in injuries, although the exact number of injured cannot be confirmed. We have discussed with the owner, and they have assured us that the wage will be paid by next Tuesday.”
Workers said the factory was declared closed on April 8 without clearing the dues for the month of March.
The owner of the factory earlier assured that they will pay their dues through mobile banking before Eid-ul-Fitr but the workers did not get their salary.
Vehicular movements in the area came to normal around 4 pm.
Contacted, Aslam Sunny, director of Crony group, said they have cleared the bonus of the workers but failed to provide the salary of the month of March due. He said they will pay the salary by Wednesday.
Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further trouble, said Taslim Uddin, in-charge (investigation) of Fatullah Model Police Station.
