Ashulia unrest shuts over 100 units, injures 50 cops

“Ordinary workers want to remain at work. But, at the instigation of some outsiders, a group is trying to provoke workers arriving at factories every morning and force them to leave. They are throwing bricks and stones to create unrest,” he told journalists beside Dewan Pump in Nishchintapur, Ashulia, around noon on Tuesday.

The SP said industrial police had taken adequate security measures to ensure workers could work safely. However, workers at some factories had been forced to suspend operations for security reasons.

Rejecting allegations that police were using force against workers, he said the police were also working to help them secure their legitimate dues.

He cited the case of a factory owner who had gone into hiding without paying four months’ wages to workers. Police later detained the owner and arranged payment of the outstanding wages through Ashulia Police Station, he said.

Mominul said police were not the workers’ adversaries and were only working to maintain a safe working environment. He alleged that a section of people, acting at the instigation of outsiders, had left factories and thrown bricks and stones at police and other factories.

He said police dispersed the protesters to protect themselves and bring the situation under control, adding that they would also support workers in ensuring proper implementation of the government-announced minimum wage.

Regarding factory closures, the SP said more than 100 of the around 800 factories under his jurisdiction remained closed. Production was continuing in most areas of Savar, except for some factories in Narsinghpur, Nishchintapur and Zirabo, while several others had temporarily suspended operations.

He added that some factory owners had contacted him after noon seeking security to reopen their units. Police were ready to provide protection, and the owners had been encouraged to resume production, he said.

On police casualties, Mominul said around 50 personnel had been injured so far. About 20 were injured on Monday (November 2), while another officer was hit on the head by a brick on Tuesday. The officer received four stitches and was admitted to hospital, he added.