Army, police vehicles torched in Kochukhet amid RMG workers' protest
Two garments workers were shot during the unrest, situation is now normal
Two vehicles belonging to the Bangladesh Army and police were set on fire during a protest by RMG workers in the Kachukhet area of the capital today (31 October).
Two fire service units were later deployed to bring the flames under control.
Around 9am, workers from Centex Fashion Limited and other nearby factories gathered in front of their workplaces after the management of the nearby Mousumi Garments shut down the factory the previous night following a series of altercations.
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The shutdown led to a larger gathering of workers on the street, and tensions escalated when police and army personnel were deployed in the area.
Witnesses say workers threw bricks and stones at them. In response, the police resorted to baton charges, which resulted in further unrest.
"At one point, the workers vandalised and set fire to two vehicles belonging to the police and army. In response, police and army personnel took action to disperse them," said Kazi Golam Mostafa, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kafrul police station.
Lima Khanam, on-duty official at the Fire Service control room, said two units of firefighters were working to douse the fire. "We don't know who set the fire or how it started."
Around two hours after the incident, the army took measures to regain control by sealing off the area and restricting movement.
No case has been filed till filing the report at 9pm on the day.
A source from the control room of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, wishing not to be named, said two workers named Al Amin, 17, and Jhuma Akter, 15, were shot during the clash between law enforcement and garment workers.
They have been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
"Al Amin was heading home when he was shot in the back," said his coworker Kabir Hossain, adding that Al Amin, who hailed from Khulna, lived near the factory in Mirpur-14.
Jhuma's sister, Morjina Begum, stated that Jhuma, a sewing operator at Centex Fashion, was hit in the leg and was discharged after receiving initial treatment.
Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH Police Outpost, confirmed that while Jhuma was released after receiving primary care, Al Amin remains in critical condition and is undergoing surgery.
Speaking to TBS, Centex Managing Director Jashimuddin, said the workers of Creative Designers had been demanding the resignation of a line chief. The resignation demands came after the line chief's relative allegedly beat up a factory operator, angering workers.
On Wednesday, a meeting was held between law enforcers, the army and workers. During the meeting, an altercation broke out.
The factory was then shut after Section-13/A of the Labour Law – no work, no pay – was implemented.
Today, the workers again took to the streets demanding punishment of law enforcers who had gotten into an altercation with workers.
The Business Standard reached out to Creative Designers, but no representative was available for comments.
Bhashantek Police Station OC Shah Mohammad Faisal said, "We have been on the road since morning to control the situation, but workers suddenly kicked off their agitation and pelted brickbats at the police and the army. At one point they set fire to army and police vehicles."
Now the situation is somewhat under control. Army and police are on the spot, he added.
Maksuder Rahman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Mirpur Division told TBS, "As the protesters hurled brick chips, some police and army personnel were also injured."
When asked about how many RMG workers were shot or injured, he could not clarify and said, "As protests erupted, people from both sides got injured."
