RMG workers-police clash in Savar, Gazipur

Following the government fixing the minimum wage of garment workers at Tk12,500, several clashes erupted between the workers and police at Savar and Gazipur on Thursday.

Savar witnessed clashes between the police and garment workers as protests against the government's decision. 

Workers from various factories in Ashulia's Jamgara, Narsinghpur, Nishchintpur, and Kathgara areas arrived at work on time, but employees in several factories halted their operations.

Around 9am, workers from selected factories were granted leave.

After the announcement, a group of workers gathered on the Abdullahpur-Bypail road, leading to police intervention. When some workers blocked roads, the police dispersed them using tear gas shells. Subsequently, additional factory closures were declared.

During the unrest, an agitated group vandalized a covered van in Ashulia's Narsinghpur area around 10:30am. The van's driver sustained injuries from bricks thrown by the workers and was promptly taken to a local hospital for treatment. 

Furthermore, journalist M Atiq, reporting for Daily Somoyer Kantho, was attacked while performing his duties in front of the NASSA Group in the Narsinghpur area at 1:30pm. The workers assaulted him and seized his camera and mobile phone. 

He was rescued and provided first aid at a nearby hospital.

Later, workers in Narsinghpur and Nishchinpur areas of Ashulia's Bypail-Abdullahpur road pelted bricks at the police around 10:30am. 

During the confrontation, some pedestrians and Assistant Superintendent of Police of Shilpa Police-1 ABM Rashidul Bari sustained injuries from the workers' projectiles.

A worker from Ha-Meem Group in Narsinghpur, treated at Ashulia Women and Children's Hospital, described the situation. When workers from other factories protested outside, their factory authorities shut down their operations. As they left, bricks hurled by fellow workers struck him on the head, injuring him. Several other workers were also hurt. The police dispersed the crowd using tear gas shells, prompting everyone to disperse.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Savar Circle) Shahidul Islam stated that workers were briefly gathered on the road and were peacefully moved away. As of now, the situation has returned to normal. 

Superintendent of Police of Ashulia Industrial Police-1 Mohammad Sarwar Alam confirmed the morning protests but stated that police intervention restored calm. 

During the incident, an assistant superintendent of police was injured by bricks; however, the severity of the injuries remains uncertain.

In Gazipur, clashes between workers and the police unfolded in the Konabari area. 

Aggrieved workers took a stand in the Toshka factory area, where confrontations with law enforcement escalated. 

In response, the police used sound grenades and tear shells to disperse the protesters. The agitated workers extensively vandalized the factory. 

Police, RAB, and BGB patrol teams have been deployed to regain control. Clashes between the police and workers began on Thursday afternoon and continued into the evening.

At 8am, workers initiated a protest on the Chandana Chowrasta-Shibbari road in Gazipur metropolis. 

After the police intervened and cleared the road, traffic resumed. 

Later, workers gathered on the Dhaka-Tangail highway in the Basan thana area of Gazipur metropolis. 

By noon, workers from various factories in the Konabari area joined the movement, blocking vital regional roads with their protest processions. Confrontations ensued when the police attempted to disperse the crowd, leading to a blockade of the Dhaka-Tangail highway. Toshuka garment factory workers also joined the protest on the road.

Major Yasir Arafat Hossain, commander of RAB-1 Gazipur Porabari camp, appealed to the workers to remain calm. However, when the workers continued with vandalism under the guise of protest, law enforcement authorities took action.

Moinul Haque, additional superintendent of police of Gazipur-2 Industrial Police, is present at the scene, trying to engage in dialogue with the restless workers.