Case filed against 1,500 after clashes with garment workers

Police have filed a case against around 1,500 unidentified people, along with 21 named accused, over clashes during garment workers' protests demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 in Narayanganj, while eight people have been arrested.

For the third consecutive day on Wednesday, garment workers clashed with police while trying to march towards the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road from the Kathেরpul area of Fatullah in Narayanganj Sadar upazila.

The clashes took place between 10AM and 11:30AM as workers from several garment factories gathered in the area and attempted to move towards the link road. Police initially blocked them. When workers allegedly hurled brickbats at law enforcers, police fired tear gas shells, rubber bullets and sound grenades to disperse them, foiling their attempt to block the road.

Some agitated workers also attempted to vandalise several factories in the morning as authorities tried to bring workers out of the establishments. Factories operating in the Kathেরpul area were gradually closed. However, the situation remained calm in the BSCIC, Adamjee EPZ, Kanchpur and other industrial areas.

Workers alleged that police obstructed their peaceful movement by firing tear gas, preventing them from carrying out their protest programmes.

Police, however, said workers had repeatedly taken to the streets and blocked roads despite being urged to remain patient over the past two days. They claimed the action was necessary to prevent public suffering and ensure workers' safety.

Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Md Habibur Rahman said police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and SRB personnel were deployed in the area from the morning to prevent disorder.

He said police first tried to persuade the workers, informing them that a wage board had already been formed and requesting them to wait for its decision before resuming protests. However, workers ignored the request and attempted to take to the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road, prompting police to use tear gas and sound grenades to disperse them.

The SP said traffic on the link road returned to normal after noon.

He also confirmed that police had filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act, naming 21 people and accusing another 1,000 to 1,500 unidentified individuals over alleged sabotage. Eight people were arrested during the protests on Tuesday and Wednesday and sent to jail through court on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists, along with law enforcement personnel, maintained a presence along major roads in Shibu Market, Kathেরpul and surrounding areas of Fatullah.

Several groups of agitated workers attempted to occupy the link road at different points around noon, but law enforcers dispersed them using tear gas and sound grenades. Police also deployed water cannons and armoured vehicles, while BGB, SRB and Detective Branch (DB) personnel conducted patrols.

Later in the afternoon, BNP Dhaka divisional assistant organising secretary and Narayanganj-2 lawmaker Nazrul Islam Azad, Deputy Commissioner Md Raihan Kabir, SP Habibur Rahman, Narayanganj City Corporation Administrator Advocate Sakhawat Hossain and other BNP leaders and officials visited different points along the link road.

Speaking after the visit, Azad said they also wanted workers to receive their rightful wages and that the Prime Minister supported their cause.

"As a garment factory owner, I also want my workers to receive their fair rights. A wage board has already been formed. I urge you to remain patient and have faith in the Prime Minister," he said.

He alleged that a vested quarter was trying to divert the workers' movement in the Shibu Market area and warned those involved in what he described as a conspiracy that their attempts would not succeed.

- MaT