Garment workers allegedly set fire to a police vehicle during clashes in Mirpur-11, Dhaka, on Sunday. The clashes erupted after law enforcement personnel attempted to remove the protesters from the roads in the area.
Mirpur-10 and 11 metro stations have been closed following the violence.
After receiving information about the fire, a team from the Pallabi Fire Service Station went to the scene. The incident occurred around noon in front of Purbabi Cinema Hall in Mirpur.
Anwar Islam Dolon, an official of the Fire Service Headquarters’ Media Cell, confirmed the matter.
The protesting workers blocked roads in different parts of Mirpur around 9am, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000. They initially blocked the road at the Mirpur-10 intersection.
Later, workers from factories in Mirpur-11, Mirpur-12, the Prashika intersection area and nearby localities also joined the protests.
Photo: Jannatul Ferdaus/TIMES
The demonstrations brought all types of vehicular movement in the affected areas to a standstill.
At one stage, police used water cannons, tear gas shells and sound grenades in an attempt to disperse the protesters and bring the situation under control. This led to chases, counter-chases and clashes between the workers and police.
Regarding the situation, Jalal Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Pallabi Police Station, said workers had been demonstrating on roads in Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-12 and surrounding areas since morning.
He said additional police personnel had been deployed to manage the situation, while efforts were underway to clear the roads and remove the protesters.
The clashes have created tension across the area.
Meanwhile, traffic movement in Mirpur has yet to return to normal, as roads remain blocked.
