Garment workers clashed with police when marching towards the Secretariat demanding the payment of overdue wages before Eid, leaving at least 40 people injured.
One police personnel named Fazle Rabbi suffered critical injuries as the workers threw brick chips at a police barricade. Four other police members also were injured in the attacks and are undergoing treatment at the Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital.
Thirty-five workers suffered injuries when police responded to disperse the agitators.
Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Khalid Mansur told reporters the police brought the situation under control in a short time. The workers later went to their respective destinations, he claimed.
After the clash, Bangladesh Garments and Sweaters Workers’ Union General Secretary Ruhul Amin threatened to besiege the Chief Adviser’s residence on the Eid day to press home the workers’ demand.
Earlier in the morning, the workers had been observing a sit-in programme in front of the Labour Ministry office for three days. On Monday, they blocked the Naya Paltan Road, and on Tuesday, they decided to go further by marching towards the Secretariat.
Police obstructed the march at Bjoynagar, but the workers managed to push through. Later, police set up another barricade near the Topkhana Road, and started chasing after the workers, prompting the protesters to turn violent.
The workers threw brick chips and the police retaliated with sound grenades and tear gas.
bd-pratidin/GR
