Two people were killed and 15 others injured in a clash between workers of Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and police in Nilphamari sadar upazila on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday (September 2nd) in front of the Uttara EPZ.
Rangpur Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Aminul Islam, confirmed the death to Jamuna Television, identifying the deceased as Habibur Rahman Habib. He was the son of Dulal Mia from Kazirhat village in Shoroshi union, Nilphamari Sadar police station.
Local sources said that workers at the Evergreen wig factory, located inside the Nilphamari EPZ, had been demonstrating for the past few days with various demands. When the Evergreen authorities shut down the factory on Monday night without meeting the demands, tensions among the workers escalated.
From Tuesday morning, workers gathered and began protesting in front of the Uttara EPZ. At one point, they tried to enter the EPZ. When the army tried to disperse the workers, the workers attacked army vehicles.
At this time, the army opened fire to subdue the agitated workers. Six people with gunshot wounds were admitted to Nilphamari Sadar Hospital. The doctor on duty declared one of them, named Habib, dead upon arrival. As the news spread, a large number of more workers gathered in the area. Police and the army are trying to bring the situation under control.
The duty doctor at Nilphamari Hospital, Dr Farhan Tanveer Ul Islam, said that six people with gunshot wounds were admitted to the hospital around 9am. Among them, one named Habib was brought in dead. The other five are undergoing treatment. However, UNB has reported that another individual was killed during the clashes.
Lieutenant Colonel S M Badruddoza of the 56th BGB Battalion stated that alongside police and army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed in the area. The situation is under control.
