Garment workers clash with cops in Dhaka; police vehicle torched

At least 20 people, including 4-5 police personnel, were injured in clashes between police and ready-made garment workers in the capital’s Mirpur area on Sunday as the workers took to the streets demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.

Witnesses said workers from several garment factories blocked the Mirpur-10 intersection around 9am to press for their demand, bringing traffic to a standstill on several connecting roads.

Clashes broke out around 11:15am when police tried to disperse the protesting workers.

Police first requested the protesting workers to clear the roads and then charged batons and fired tear gas and sound grenades as they defied the request.

The first spell of clashes eased to some extent around 11:45am, witnesses said.

Following the police action, the workers moved away from the Mirpur-10 roundabout towards Mirpur-11, where fresh clashes took place at different points.

A police vehicle was set on fire near Purabi Cinema Hall in Mirpur-11.

A firefighting unit from the Pallabi Fire Service Station rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire, said Anwar Islam Dolon, an official of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters' media cell.

No one was reported injured in the fire incident, he said.

The clashes left at least 20 people, including 4-5 policemen, injured.

Police later used batons, tear gas, sound grenades and water cannons to disperse the protesters.

They also detained 15-20 people in connection with the clashes and the arson incident, said Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Mirpur Division) Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar.

He said traffic around the Mirpur-10 roundabout became normal after 12 noon.

Source: UNB