50 hurt as RMG workers, police clash in Uttara

At least 50 people, including 18 police personnel, were injured in a clash between garment workers and law enforcers in Dhaka’s Uttara yesterday.

The clash ensued around 11:30am near Rajlakshmi as police charged batons and used sound grenades and water cannons to disperse workers attempting to block the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for the fifth consecutive day, demanding higher wages and payment of arrears.

Locals said workers from garment factories in Uttarkhan and Dakshinkhan areas began gathering around 10:00am at several locations, including Kasaibari, Jamtala, Azampur railway gate and the Holy Mill intersection near Jasimuddin, before assembling on Road 13 in Sector 4.

The workers hurled brickbats at policemen, triggering the clash with chase and counter-chase for nearly an hour.

After being dispersed from the Rajlakshmi area, some protesters vandalised a vehicle belonging to the Industrial Police in Sector 4, and also assaulted an Industrial Police constable.

Several workers, requesting anonymity, said at least 30 workers sustained injuries.

Rezaul Karim, deputy commissioner (Uttara Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said police initially tried to persuade the demonstrators to leave the road, but the situation escalated as the workers attacked law enforcers.

“Around 17 to 18 policemen were injured, including an Industrial Police constable who suffered a broken hand,” he said.

Rezaul said that while the government was working to form a wage board and had already constituted a committee regarding the wage issues, workers from a few factories in Uttara were repeatedly blocking roads, causing public suffering.

He also claimed that workers from one particular factory, owned by an Awami League leader, made up the majority of the protesters.

Sadikur Rahman, assistant commissioner of the Industrial Police, said the motorcycle of an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) was vandalised by protesters.

“They also assaulted a constable who had no involvement in the incident,” he said, adding that legal steps were underway.