Clash between RMG workers, joint forces leaves 40 injured in Rupganj
A total of 10 workers were detained by police from the spot, according to police
At least 40 people, including law enforcers, were injured during a clash between readymade garment workers and joint forces in Narayanganj's Rupganj today (9 April).
The clash took place from 12pm to 3pm when law enforcers tried to remove the workers of Robintex Limited from the road during a protest at Aukhabo area on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, said police.
The clash halted vehicular movement on Dhaka-Sylhet highway.
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A total of 10 workers were detained by police from the spot, according to police.
Contacted, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mehedi Islam said, "We have been able to normalise the situation. Vehicular movement has resumed on the highway, and we are trying to meet the demands of the workers through discussions."
Saiful Islam, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Rupganj, said, "We went to the spot immediately after getting informed about the clash. We will talk to the factory authorities today about the demands raised by the workers, and we will try to solve the crisis through discussion in the presence of worker representatives."
According to the workers, the factory, which employs 8,000 people, remained closed from 29 March to 7 April on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr festival. However, the factory authorities sacked 120 workers during the Eid vacation, they said.
The workers also said they received 50% of their salaries as Eid bonus instead of getting 65% promised by the authority. Besides, the workers received salaries for only 20 days of work instead of getting full salaries, they added.
The workers further said when they asked the authorities about the reason behind the layoff yesterday (8 April), the authorities started to dilly-dally while providing answers.
The workers took to the street this morning protesting the layoff and urged the authorities to clear their salaries and bonuses.
They claimed that the clash erupted when the police charged batons on the workers to remove them from the road
Police claimed that the workers threw brick chips at the law enforcers during the clash, injuring a few of them.
