Fresh labour unrest erupted across various areas of Gazipur on Wednesday as workers continued demonstrations demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000. A general holiday was declared in 12 to 13 factories in response to the situation, police confirmed.
At 8am on Wednesday morning, workers entered the Ripon Knitwear Limited factory located in the Jarun area of Konabari under Gazipur City Corporation. They punched their attendance cards and immediately walked out. The workers claimed that a female worker died two days ago after police and BGB members fired tear gas shells and sound grenades.
However, factory authorities and police say it is a rumour, adding that a vested interest group has spread such rumours to destabilise the industrial sector.
Besides, following the unrest in Konabari, general holidays were declared at several factories, including Life Textile Fashion, Fashion Point, Islam Garments, Mamun Knitwear, MM Knitwear, PN Knit Composite, Titas Sweater, and Best Wool Sweater.
In a separate incident at 2pm, workers of Rich Cotton Apparels Limited in the Saradaganj area of Kashimpur under Gazipur City Corporation launched a protest demanding a wage increase.
The workers claimed that police fired tear gas shells to disperse them, injuring several of them. The injured were rescued and taken to hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.
But police have said that sound grenades and tear gas shells were fired to disperse the crowd, adding that no casualties had been confirmed.
A group of outside workers entered the factory premises on Tuesday and carried out extensive vandalism. Police later fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to control the situation. Although workers entered the factory on Wednesday morning, they left without performing any work, Md Manowar Hossain, administrative officer of MM Knitwear Limited said.
Saddam Hossain, administrative officer of Ripon Knitwear Limited, confirmed that reports of a female worker’s death were a rumour and that no such incident took place at their factory.
BGB personnel were deployed alongside police officers across key locations to maintain law and order, ensure overall security, and avert untoward incidents. Two platoons were stationed in Palli Bidyut, while one platoon each was deployed in Chandra, Mouchak, Ambagh-Kata, Kashimpur, Naojor, Bhogra Bypass, Gacha, and Salna.
Mohammad Amzad Hossain, superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police, said that a general holiday was declared in 12 to 13 factories due to worker dissatisfaction. Executive magistrates of the district administration, alongside personnel from the police, BGB, SRB, and Ansar are actively working to bring the overall situation under control.
