Some two thousand workers of IRIS Fashion Ltd (IFL) gathered on the factory premises early in the morning following a rumour that of one of their co-workers had been clubbed to death and dumped inside the factory.

They were demanding immediate information about their 'missing' colleague and punishment to those who attacked the workers at IFL on Sunday night.

The factory owners and the law enforcers by this time did not act to scotch the rumour.

The workers who have already been demonstrating for better conditions including a raise in their salaries for the last few days got even more furious at the indifference of the authorities.

As the demonstrators began to march towards Dhaka-Ashulia-Baipail highway at around 8:30am, police charged baton to disperse them. But the procession kept going.

Shortly after the incident, a huge number of police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) men were deployed around the factory and at every important points across Zirabo and Zamgora area.

Fearing more violence, the authorities soon shut around 50 factories. Later, workers of those factories too joined the procession heading towards the highway.

As the procession reached Zamgora, the demonstrators pelted stones at some of the factories. Police baton-charged the procession, triggering chase and counter chase.

During the clashes, the workers vandalised at least 10 buses.

Workers of IFL alleged that the factory authorities called a meeting on Sunday to discuss their seven-point demand including salary as per the exchange rate of US dollar and better wage for per piece product.

As three representatives of the workers went to join the meeting, goons hired by the factory authorities dragged them inside a room on the first floor. Led by Chan Mian, a local broker, they beat the three mercilessly, they added.

As the news spread, the workers flew into a rage and went on the rampage inside the factory. Police charged baton at around 8:00pm, leaving at least 20 injured.

Earlier in the day, the workers who were on a three-hour work abstention resumed work at 11:30am after the authorities had promised to settle the issue through discussion at night.

"We never get full monthly salary. I get only Tk 3,000 instead of Tk 5,000. And although they had pledged to pay us Tk 5 for a piece of finished product, we have been getting only Tk 3," said Samedul, a worker of IFL.