10 hurt as law enforcers beat workers 'entering' Gazipur factory
PM Hasina calls upon garment workers to return to work accepting the minimum wage set by govt
Ten garment workers were injured in Gazipur's Konabari after law enforcers entered the Tusuka Jeans Ltd factory and beat up workers agitating for higher wages on Thursday, according to workers and the factory owner.
Clashes between workers and police were also reported in Nischintapur and Narsinghpur areas of Ashulia, where one policeman was also injured.
On Thursday, more than 50 factories in Gazipur and Savar were closed or they partially operated as workers did not attend work amid the unrest.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Owners say around 30 factories declared closure under Section 13/1 of the Labour Act. As a result, workers will not be paid for the time that those factories are closed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called on garment workers to return to work and accept the government's announced minimum wage of Tk12,500.
At a meeting of the executive committee of the Awami League, she said those who are inciting the workers to protest are actually trying to kill them and create a situation where they will lose their jobs and be forced to return to their villages.
Garment workers have been protesting for weeks demanding a minimum wage of Tk23,000. Although the minimum wage board announced a 56% wage increase from Tk8,000 to Tk12,500 last Tuesday, a section of workers rejected it and continued to protest.
'Police and BGB entered Tusuka factory to beat workers'
A female worker at Tusuka Jeans Limited, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Business Standard that both police and Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) personnel entered the factory and beat workers.
"We worked at the factory until noon," she said. "After lunch, we heard that the police kicked a worker on his way into the factory. We stopped working and stayed inside the factory, but then the police and BGB members came and beat us with sticks. About 10 people were injured."
Arshad Jamal Dipu, managing director of Tusuka Group, confirmed the incident. "It was due to a misunderstanding. Workers were given leave after noon, but there was a lack of coordination between the police and BGB members, which led to the problem."
Md Emran Ahmmed, SP of Gazipur Industrial Police, told TBS that his team heard that workers were trapped in the factory and went to rescue them. He said that another team had gone before them, but he was not sure what had happened there.
Factory owners and workers in Ashulia and Gazipur said a number of workers started protesting on the streets of Narsinghpur and Nischintapur areas of Bypail-Abdullahpur road in Ashulia on Thursday.
Many, including Assistant Superintendent of Police ABM Rashidul Bari, a journalist and car driver and a few workers, were injured when protesting workers threw brickbats during the protest. A covered van was also vandalised in the incident.
Legal Affairs Secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Sweaters Workers Trade Union Centre Khairul Mamun Mintu told TBS that at least 50 factories in Ashulia were shut since morning in the face of workers' agitation. In many factories workers walked out without working.
Several factories, including the Starling Group, located in the Jamgora-Chhattala area of Bypail-Abdullahpur road and some factories in Kathgara area of Ashulia were also announced closed.
According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association official's workers of Next Collection (Hameem group subsidiary), Windy, Envoy and AM Design in Ashulia left factory premises.
A number of factories including Rose and Dekko Debonair announced closure following the 13/1 Section of the Labour Law, said BGMEA sources.
Meanwhile, in Konabari of Gazipur a few factories including Mondol, Islam, Standard, Cotton Club, Ripon, Shadhin, AMA Sintex, Alim Knit announced closure following the same section.
Md Nasir Uddin, vice president of the BGMEA, told TBS, "Around 30 factories were closed following the 13/1 Section of the Labour Law."
Clashes between police and workers also erupted in several factories in the Nischintapur area including the factory of Hameem group, Sharmin Garment, and Nassa Group.
Nasir, a car driver, was injured by bricks thrown by workers and taken to a local hospital, his relative Siddiq confirmed.
HM Atiq, a journalist for Somoyer Kontha and Savar correspondent, was also injured. Workers took his camera, but returned it in the evening.
Arif, a worker at Hameem Group who was injured at Ashulia Women and Children's Hospital, said that factory authorities declared a closure at around 10am when workers from other factories started protesting outside.
On his way out, Arif was hit on the head by a brick thrown by the protesting workers. A few other workers were also slightly injured.
Meanwhile, Dhaka District North Detective Police OC Riaz Uddin Ahmed Biplab said that police dispersed the protesting workers by firing tear gas and rubber bullets. The situation is now normal.
Labour organisations to hold rallies
Meanwhile, several labour organisations announced to hold rallies in the capital today to protest the killing of workers and to demand an increase in wages.
A coalition of 11 labour unions called the Garment Workers Movement to Increase Wage has announced a rally in front of the press club. On the same day, the Garments Workers Trade Union Centre announced a labour rally at Paltan.
Labour leaders say that the new wage announced by the government is a "mockery" with the workers.
