At least 50 people, including 20 police personnel, were reportedly injured in clashes between garment workers and police in the capital’s Uttara area on Saturday as protests demanding unpaid wages and a minimum basic salary of Tk 30,000 turned violent.
The clashes erupted around 11:30am in the Rajlakshmi area along the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway when police attempted to prevent protesting workers from blocking the busy road.
An Industrial Police vehicle was also vandalised during the confrontation, while law enforcement personnel used batons, tear gas shells, sound grenades, rubber bullets and water cannon to disperse the demonstrators.
According to police and local sources, workers from several garment factories in the Uttar Khan and Dakshin Khan areas began gathering at different locations around 10am as their protest entered its fifth consecutive day. The workers initially assembled at Kasaibari Rail Gate, Jamtola Rail Gate, Azampur Rail Gate and the Holy Lab intersection near Jasimuddin.
Around 11am, they gathered on Road No. 13 in Uttara’s Sector 4, near Rajlakshmi, before moving towards the eastern side of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in an attempt to block traffic.
Police intercepted the protesters to prevent disruption to vehicular movement, triggering tensions between the two sides.
At one stage, some protesters allegedly attacked police personnel with sticks and hurled bricks and stones, leaving several officers injured. An Industrial Police vehicle was also damaged during the confrontation.
Police initially resorted to baton charges before using tear gas shells, sound grenades, rubber bullets and water cannon to bring the situation under control and disperse the protesters.
The ensuing clashes left around 50 people injured, including 20 members of the police, according to preliminary reports.
Additional police personnel had been deployed in advance at several key locations, including Azampur, Rajlakshmi and the BNS Centre area, amid concerns over possible unrest.
Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and water cannon were also stationed in the area as part of security preparations.
Morshed Alam, officer-in-charge of Uttara East Police Station, said police initially tried to persuade the workers to leave the highway peacefully.
“When the workers blocked the road, we tried to convince them to move away. However, they attacked police personnel and hurled bricks and stones. Police subsequently used batons and water cannon to disperse them,” he said.
The OC confirmed that several police personnel sustained injuries after being struck by bricks and stones and received medical treatment.
He said the situation had returned to normal following police intervention, with traffic movement restored along the highway.
“No one has been detained in connection with the incident,” he added.
The workers have been demonstrating for five consecutive days, demanding payment of outstanding wages and the introduction of a minimum basic salary of Tk 30,000.
The protests have caused tensions in the industrial areas surrounding Uttara, with workers continuing to press for their demands.