DHAKA: At least 50 readymade garment workers including eight police members were injured as they engaged in a clash at two garment factories of the same owner at BISIC industrial area of Tongi on Wednesday night (June 21).
 
The injured workers and police members were rescued immediately and admitted to Tongi Government Hospital for treatment.

Sources from police, workers and locals said that though the workers of Meherunnesa Garments and Capri Apparels Ltd were supposed to be paid their salaries of May, June and eid bonuses altogether on Monday (June 19), the authority didn’t pay them by then.  

The workers waited whole day long on Wednesday for the payment, but the authority followed trickery to avoid payment. 

At one stage, agitated workers blocked BISIC Road and started demonstrating.

After the evening, police tried to remove them from the road but failed.

Later, at around 08:00pm, police baton-charged the protesting workers besides firing rubber bullets and using tear gas to disperse them. 

However, at least 50 workers including eight police members were hurt as the enraged workers retaliated in the clash, said Tongi Industrial Police In-Charge Abu Raihan Sohel.

BDST: 0955 HRS, JUN 22, 2017
SI