SAVAR: Police and garment workers locked in a fierce clash in Ashulia on Saturday morning that left at least 50 people injured, including 10 policemen.

Witnesses and police said that the clash ensued when the workers of Nasa Group were agitating in front of their factory for minimum wages of Tk 5000 putting a barricade on the Dhaka-Tangail highway.  

Police charged batons, lobbed tear shell canisters and shot rubber bullet as the workers refused to withdraw the barricade and retaliated with brick-bats.

The clash continued till filing of this report at around 12 noon.

“The road block created severe traffic congestion on the busy route,” an on-duty police officer said.

Earlier, the garment authorities had shut down the factory following demonstration by the workers for the last couple of days.

Tension mounted high in the area.

Demand for a minimum wages remains a long overdue demand by nearly three million under-paid apparel workers in the country, according to the Garment Labourers Association.       

BDST: 1230 Hrs, 19 June 2010  
Corr/BK/TA/LY/FA/