bangladesh - 3 RMG workers receive bullet injury in capital

3 RMG workers receive bullet injury in capital
At least three readymade garment workers received bullet-injury while seven other got hurt in a clash between workers and law-enforcers at city’s Gulshan Link Road on Monday. The bullet injured victims – Sharmin, 22, Tania, 19, and Bidyut, 28 — were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, reports banglanews24.com.
The clash erupted shortly after hundreds of workers of Eouta Garments took to the streets around 8am protesting the shutdown of their factory without any notice. Later, other factory workers joined the protest and blocked Gulshan Link Road when Eouta Graments workers threw bricks and pebbles at the other nearby factories. Meanwhile, vehicular communications on Gulshan, Badda and Tejgaon roads were halted for two hours. Later, police baton-charged, fired dozens of tear shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control leaving some 10 to 12 people injured, reports our correspondent. Sources said workers of the factory had been demanding an increase in their salary and allowances.
Tejgaon Industrial Zone officer-in-charge Moniruzzaman Mia and the officer-in-charge of Gulshan police station confirmed the matter. Police rushed in and brought the situation under control and extra police have been deployed in the area to avoid further incident, Deputy Police Commissioner Bipob Kumar Sarkar said. Tejgaon Zone Deputy Police Commissioner Biplob Sarker said: “Workers started hurling brick-chips aiming police. At one stage, police charged baton, fire tear shells, and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.”

Two garment factories closed after workers’ unrest
Sacked workers of two garment factories clashed with police at Savar and Ashulia on the outskirts of the city on Saturday, forcing the closure of both units indefinitely. Authorities at the two factories terminated a total of 249 workers for alleged vandalism and indiscipline during week-long protests to demand hikes in salaries and other facilities, said Zahirul Islam, deputy director of industrial police. According to witnesses, Saturday’s agitation began when workers of JK Group found a notice with the names of 84 sacked workers posted on the main gate when they came to work in the morning.
About 2,200 workers started demonstrating in front of the factory at South Dariapur of Savar Municipality. Factory staff and some local hired goons then swooped on the workers, leading to clash. Police charged batons to disperse the agitators, leaving at least 10 injured. Witnesses claimed that the hired goons, belonging to Jubo League and Chhatra League, attacked the agitating workers of JK Group, which is owned by a top leader of Jubo League’s Dhaka City unit. The police, however, denied that ruling party cadres attacked the workers. JK Group authorities, meanwhile, announced the factory closed for an indefinite period.
The 84 workers were terminated for vandalism and creating anarchy at the factory earlier, they said. In another incident at Khejurbagan in Ashulia, about 6,500 workers of CIPL took to the streets after they, too, found a termination notice for 165 workers on similar charges. Police drove away the protesters with batons, while CIPL authorities announced indefinite closure of the factory. Meanwhile, Zahirul, who is also an additional superintendent of police, told Dhaka Tribune that the workers had been carrying out demonstrations without any consideration for the owners. “The owners of the factories have assured the workers of meeting their demands, and requested them to wait until the new wage board is announce by the government,” the police officer said.