SAVAR: Police and protestors swapped control of Ashulia industrial hub Sunday as the owners closed all the garment factories in the area amid massive unrest over an incendiary pay-hike issue.  

Widespread clashes between the readymade garment workers and the law-enforcers for a third consecutive day after the government declared new wage structure left 150 people injured, adding up to 200 wounded during Saturday’s rioting.

Meanwhile, the owners and police retaliated by suing some 3,600 workers during 24 hours as suspects in the spell of violence and vandalism that left some garment factories, establishments and vehicles damaged, official sources said.

Despite heavy security buildup against the backdrop of Friday’s marauding in downtown Dhaka, massive troubles flared up at Jamgora in the Ashulia apparel industrial belt Sunday as the standoff over the new minimum wage for the RMG workers took a turn for the worst in the export industry.

Earlier in the morning, the agitated workers blocked the Baipail-Abdullahpur highway to press their demand for a minimum wage of Tk 5,000 instead of Tk 3,000.

Witnesses and police said thousands of workers of Envoy Group owned by BGMEA president Salam Murshedi and Pall Mall Group started demonstration at their factories at about 9 am, shouting slogans for Tk 5,000 as minimum wage.

Hordes of workers from other factories joined forces with them. The demonstrators blocked the Baipail-Abdullahpur highway and, at one stage, apparently took control of the area as chaos reigned supreme on the roads in and around, witnesses said.     

A fierce clash ensued when the law-enforcer acted to break up the throngs of squatters who blocked the Baipail-Abdullahpur highway, reports bansglanews24.com.bd correspondent Zahidur Rahman from the scene of chaos.

“Police poured hot water and fired teargas shells and rubber bullets to disperse militant workers who ran riot through the industrial belt for the pay hike,” says a spot account of the pitched battles.  

Earlier, police and industry owners filed two different cases against 3,600 garment workers on Saturday midnight in connection with the troubles in a chain reaction against what the protestors called intransigence of the owners on the question of raising their pay.

Managing Director (Admin) of Shed Fashion Shahidullah as a plaintiff filed one case against 600 workers for ransacking the factory.

Abid Hossain, SI of Ashulia Thana, filed another case against 3,000 workers following Saturday’s clash with police on charge of attacking, vandalizing and obstructing police duty.

SI Mostofa Kamal told banglanews24.com.bd that police identified a section of workers and some provocateurs leading the clash.

He said, “We are conducting drives to arrest the accused for hurting 60 police, including top officers and the OC, during Saturday’s clash.”

Ashulia Thana sources said at least 11 workers were arrested in the meantime.

Meanwhile, the authorities Sunday closed Shed Fashion, Shed International Ltd and P&O Attires Ltd for an indefinite period.

Director of Shed Fashion Japon Kumar Bhoumik confirmed the authorities’ decision and said, “It would take time to resume production environment in the factories.”

The law-enforcers, however, managed to bring the situation under control in the troubled Ashulia Industrial Zone at around 12.30pm.

Additional police and RAB forces have been deployed in the troubled area to maintain order, officials said.

BDST: 1332 HRS, AUGUST 01, 2010