Production in many factories at DEPZ was once again suspended after agitating workers were locked in triangular clashes between two groups of labourers and the law enforcers. The disruption forced foreign and local investors to close their factories even in the adjacent areas of DEPZ as well.

Many factory owners at Zamgora, Zirani, Bypile, adjacent areas of DEPZ, closed their factories fearing agitators might instigate their employees into vandalism. Many garment factory owners in Gazipur also shut down their factories following agitations and workers' strike.

The workers set up barricades on roads of Ashulia, Kaliakoir and Gazipur creating huge gridlocks that lasted for more than four hours.

Around 3,000 workers demonstrated inside the DEPZ since yesterday morning and brought out processions asking their colleagues to join in.

The agitators ransacked many water jars left in front of a factory and violently struck the gates of several factories trying to break in. They chanted slogans in support of their 11-point demand.

The clashes ensued after Commerce Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Labour and Employment Amanullah Aman yesterday morning visited factories damaged in previous attacks.

Awami League (AL) lawmaker Shajahan Khan, presidents and leaders of BGMEA and BKMEA, SCOP, several business leaders and Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) officials accompanied the ministers.

Thousands of workers surrounded the visiting ministers when they entered the premises of a factory and asked them to resolve their issues immediately. Later, the delegation held a rally with the workers where labour leaders spoke for their demands.

Their demands included a minimum wage of Tk 3,000 while Tk 13,000 for skilled workers, a weekly holiday, not to engage the female workers on night shifts, transport facilities, punishment to corrupt Bepza officials, the right to form workers' unions, appointment letters for the workers and implementation of the Factory Act.

Amanullah Aman admitted that there were a few irregularities and assured the workers that he would solve their problems soon. He also called for a tripartite meeting between the government, factory owners and three workers' representatives from each of the factories.

As the workers demanded to resolve their issues on the spot, the Commerce Minister Hafiz Uddin said the problem could not be solved overnight. He also told the workers Bepza would open a Complaint Box for the workers to lodge their complaints there.

When the ministers stepped down from the stage, workers, allegedly of Youngone Hi-tech Sportswear Industries and Beximco Fashion Ltd with coloured headbands, attacked the workers of the rally with sticks prompting chases and counter chases that left more than 30 people injured.

Police tried to bring the situation under control but the agitating workers alleged the law enforcers joined the attacking group of workers who belonged to pro-owners' group. Thirteen critically injured workers were admitted to local clinics for treatment.

Meanwhile, four more workers of Shanta Washworks were also injured when Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) men allegedly charged truncheons on them to vacate the factory after the workers went on a strike.

Transport movement on Nabinagar-Kaliakoir highway was disrupted for four hours as hundreds of workers took to the street setting up barricades around 10:00am.

A huge contingent of police, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) men and Rab personnel were deployed in the trouble-torn areas.

GAZIPUR
Production at seven garment factories in Gazipur came to a standstill yesterday as demonstrating workers went on a rampage and clashed with riot police, a correspondent in Gazipur reports.

The workers' demonstrations at the seven factories in Jirani Bazar, Konabari, Mouchak, Baraypar and Tongi also disrupted vehicular movement on Kaliakoir-Nabinagar and Kaliakoir-Joydevpur highways for about two hours.

Witnesses said at around 11:00am more than 2,000 workers of Dorin Garments at Jirani Bazar stopped working and came out of their garments chanting slogans in support of their 11-point demand.

The demonstrating workers went on the rampage ransacking windowpanes, doors and furniture of the factory. Riot police rushed to the spot and their attempt to calm things down led to chases and counter chases that left around 25 workers injured.

As the clashes spread to the Kaliakoir-Nabinagar highway, traffic movement was snapped. Police lobbed three canisters of teargas to disperse the angry workers who threw brickbats in return. The workers however left the place around 1:25pm.

Workers unrest also began at the factories of Mandal Group on Konabari-Kashimpur road around 10:00pm as owners of the factory allegedly failed to sit with the workers in a scheduled negotiation meeting.

The workers left the factory peacefully after the owner assured the workers of holding the meeting today. The workers however did not resume work.

Following workers' demonstration at Mandal Group, the owner of nearby Delta Composite suspended production fearing violence in his factory.

Witnesses said the violence at Dorin Garments was about to spread to nearby Orient Garments as workers on strike started chanting slogans in support of their six-point demand. However, Orient Garments owner's assurance of meeting all their demands appeased the workers who however did not resume work.

Workers of Hay Chong Corporation at Baraypara of Kaliakoir and Nippon Garments at Tongi went on a strike around 12:30pm yesterday. The striking workers at Hay Chong Corporation alleged their officials torture them on trivial matters. They also demanded compensation for the family of a fellow worker who was killed a few days ago following a machine explosion.

Police sources said around 800 policemen from different districts were brought into Gazipur yesterday to contain the workers' agitation.