Five injured as two groups of protesting workers, locals clash in Gazipur; factory set ablaze

At least five people were injured in three-way clashes between two groups of protesting workers and locals in Gazipur city's Panishail area today (18 November).

The protesting workers also set fire to Amazon Knitwears, an RMG factory, in the area, reports Prothom Alo.

Citing locals and police, the news outlet said the protesters belong to Doreen Fashion Ltd and Beximco Industrial Park.

"Two Fire Service units were sent from Kashimpur after receiving the information. The fire will be extinguished with the help of the army," Prothom Alo said quoting Abdullah Al Arefin, deputy director of Gazipur Fire Service.

According to sources, Doreen Fashion was announced closed for an indefinite period on 1 November amidst labour unrest in Gazipur. The factory later reopened yesterday, but authorities closed the factory at noon as protests by Beximco workers grew intense. 

Today, Beximco workers again blocked a highway demanding their October salaries. Amidst the protest, around 20 factories, including Doreen Fashion, in the area were declared closed.

Meanwhile, after coming to join work today, Doreen Fashion workers found that authorities have declared it closed for an indefinite period once again, which prompted the workers to protest in demand of opening the factory. 

They, alongside Beximco workers, blocked the Nabinagar-Chandra Highway in the Jirani area. The two groups of protesters later got into an argument, which escalated into a clash, injuring at least five.

The clash later spread into nearby localities, with protesters beating up several locals, prompting chase and counter-chase.

At the time, some protesters of Beximco and Doreen Fashion set Amazon Knitwear ablaze.

Police later brought the situation under control.