Savar worker protests leave 40 injured, police vehicle torched

Violent clashes broke out between readymade garment (RMG) workers and police personnel across the Hemayetpur and Ulail areas of Savar on Wednesday morning (November 4), leaving at least 40 people injured, including police officers, workers, and journalists.

Demonstrators set fire to the official police vehicle assigned to Savar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saiful Alam at the Padmar Mor intersection.

Among the injured were seven police officers, including OC Saiful Alam, alongside three journalists identified as Ekattor TV reporters Rayin and Ujjal, and Star News reporter Siraji.

RMG workers blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway for the fifth consecutive day to demand a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, guarantees against blacklisting protesting workers, and the immediate release of detained peers. Large groups of workers assembled on the highway in the morning, causing traffic to halt in both directions.

Management at 11 factories in the Hemayetpur and Padmar Mor areas declared a general holiday on Wednesday morning to avert further escalation. However, the highway blockade created multi-kilometre traffic jams, stranding commuters and drivers.

Clashes intensified around 10:00 AM outside the Standard Group facility in Hemayetpur as law enforcement used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse workers throwing stones. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel arrived at the scene shortly after to assist police forces in restoring order.

Simultaneously, repeated confrontations occurred outside the Al-Muslim Group premises in Ulail, where workers blocked the highway and pelted police with brickbats. Police responded with tear gas, clearing the thoroughfare after a two-and-a-half-hour traffic stoppage.

Savar Model Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Md Mosharaf Hossain confirmed that OC Saiful Alam and several officers sustained injuries from thrown brickbats before being moved to safety. Police officials noted that journalists were targeted by demonstrating workers while attempting to gather footage.

Vehicular movement along the Dhaka-Aricha highway resumed around 11:30 AM as tensions subsided. Meanwhile, no untoward incidents were reported in neighboring Ashulia, where additional police and BGB details remain deployed to prevent gathering attempts.

-SA