DHAKA: As many as 60,000 anonymous workers were sued over Tuesdays massive violence in the Ashulia industrial belt after all the shut-down garment factories reopened on Wednesday morning in an atmosphere of uneasy calm.

Ashulia Thana SI Ahmed Manzur Morshed filed the case as plaintiff on Wednesday noon, which observers say could be another sore point in the pent-up mood of the workers who are pressing for a wage hike.

The case statement says the workers are accused of pelting on-duty policemen with brickbats and damaging factories Tuesday, after all factories had been closed at Ashulia.

None was arrested till the filing of the report, reports banglanews24.com.bd correspondent Jahidur Rahman.

Earlier in the morning, the crisis-ridden garment factories in Ashulia belt resumed operation a day after all were closed en block by the owners amid raging labour unrest on the demand for pay hike.

"By the thousand the workers turned up in the morning and joined their work from 8:00am," reports our correspondent.

Local MP Murad Jong, along with BGMEA representatives, police and RAB officials, is strictly monitoring the overall situation of the readymade garment units in the area after the factories rolled back into production of export apparels.

Witnesses said elite-force RAB and police patrols were reinforced in the Ashulia industrial belt, particularly in front of the factories that were vandalized during several days of rampage.

Earlier on Monday, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) decided to close down all the factories in the area for an indefinite period. But, later on Wednesday, the BGMEA bosses reversed their stance for reopening the factories as the government assured them of ensuring safety and security in the zone.

Meanwhile, the laid-off RMG workers also calmed down as the labour and employment minister, Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain, declared that the government is contemplating offering a new wage scale for them by July 28.

"The workers started a busy day again in their respective factories, though some of the units lack significant attendance," says a firsthand report.

At the same time, armed police and RAB were seen patrolling the entire belt of Ashulia with hot-water cannon mounted on vans to flush out any troublemaker.

Mansur Khaled, additional secretary of BGMEA, said, "Some of the workers left Ashulia after BGMEA declared the indefinite shutdown. But, even then, the corkers attendance is 80 percent."

Azizul Islam, inspector of labour ministry, told the news portal that operation of factories, excepting Scandex garments, in Ashulia "started in a normal mode in the morning".

BGMEA president Salam Murshedi said, "We have opened all the factories after getting government assurances of security and safety."

Murshedi also said they are monitoring the situation and hoping that government would extend "all-out cooperation in the interest of the countrys RMG sector".

Iqbal Bhar, Dhaka district police super, said, "In general the situation is better now."

It is not possible to ensure security man to man, but the law enforcers are capable of facing any situation, said the district police boss.

Some 200 workers were injured and a huge number of factories vandalized in a series of clashes between workers and the law enforcers for last four days, as a standoff over a recommended pay hike took a turn for the worst crisis in the export industry.

BST 1925 hrs, June 23, 2010
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