Staff Reporter :
Two buses have been torched and several vehicles vandalised on Dhaka-Tangail highway in Konabari area in Gazipur city when police lobbed teargas shells to disperse agitating workers from the road on Tuesday.
The demonstration began with protesters gathering on the Dhaka-Tangail highway and in Gazipur’s Kashimpur around 8am on Tuesday raising their voices demanding a minimum basic salary of Tk23,000.
Gazipur Industrial Police along with local law enforcers attempted to disperse the crowd using batons, teargas shells resulting in a clash that left several workers injured. Following the clash with police, the agitated workers allegedly vandalised several buses and set fire on two buses. However, the workers denied the arson and vandalism.
Gazipur Fire Service’s Deputy Assistant Director Abdullah Al Arefin said being informed about arson attack on buses, the firemen rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.
Denying any confrontation and subsequent injuries, Industrial Police 2 (Gazipur) Additional SP Md Emran Ahmmed said that some people tried to create chaos but police successfully stopped them from gathering. However, two buses belonging to Ajmeri Paribahan were set ablaze in the Konabari Signboard area of the Dhaka-Tangail highway.
“It is still unclear who torched the buses. There are suspicions that a third party might be provoking the workers. Currently, traffic movement has returned to normal, as our personnel conducting patrols to maintain law and order situation,” he added.
Thousands of garment workers have been protesting at major readymade garment (RMG) industrial zones since October 23 demanding Tk23,000 as monthly minimum wage, after the RMG owners proposed Tk10,400 at the Minimum Wage Board on October 22.