SAVAR: Garment workers on Saturday morning barricaded Nabinagar-Kaliakoir road and vandalized about 50 vehicles in a violent protest against the death of a factory worker in a road accident.

The factory management declared an unscheduled leave to avert further outbreaks of trouble.

Police said Selim Reza, 30, a worker of Pearl Garments Ltd, was run over by a bus while crossing the road near his workplace at about 8:30am. Selim joined the factory five days ago.

His death sparked off a strong protest by his colleagues. “Hundreds of workers took to the street and put up barricades on Nabinagar-Kaliakoir road,” says a firsthand report.

The protestors vandalized about 50 vehicles, disrupting traffic on the route for about one and a half hours.
 
On information, Ashulia thana police rushed in and quelled the rampage.

Sajjadul Islam, an official of Pearl garment factory, told banglanews24.com.bd, “We declared a leave as the situation went out of control.”  

Ashulia thana OC Sirajul Islam said the situation returned to normal as police removed the angry workers from the road.  

BDST 1247 HRS, JULY 17, 2010