ASHULIA, DHAKA: Readymade garments workers of Ashulia and Gazipur on Tuesday staged protest by blocking Nabinagar-Kaliakoir highway demanding Tk 8,000 as minimum salary.

At that time, more than 100 workers were injured as the protesters locked into a chase-counter chase with police.

Sources from the police and workers said that the workers started demonstration inside the Machihata factory of Panishail area in Gazipur at around 8.30am Tuesday.

At one stage, labourers took position on the Nabinagar-Kaliakoir highway as the owners failed to come up with any decision.

Labourers threw brick chips to neighboring factories--Northern Fashion, Sathi Fashion Apparels, Dorin Garments and instigated labourers of those factories to join them in the blockade.

Agitated workers encircled a group of Industrial Police of 10-12 members and they fired 30-40 tear shells to disperse them.

On information, additional law enforcers reached the area with water canon and armoured van and dispersed the labourers.

During the time police fired 50 rounds of rubber bullets and more than 100 tear shells.

On the other hand, labourers of Banglabazar area of Ashulia also staged demonstration with the same demand.

Garments’ authorities announced leave for Tuesday to thwart further untoward situation.

Later, the berserk labourers vandalized a few vehicles on Ashulia-Konabari highway. During the time around 30 people were injured in a clash with police.

Confirming the matter, director of Industrial Police-1 Mostafizur Rahman told banglanews, “The situation is under control now. RAB and additional police are patrolling the area.”

BDST: 1639 HRS, SEP 25, 2013
SR/AKA/SRS