
At least 100 people were injured in a clash between garment workers and police on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Bhulta of Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj on Wednesday.
Witnesses said that the workers of Tobin Tex took to the street at Aukhabo in the morning, demanding payment of their dues and bonus and protesting firing of workers from the factory.
The workers said that some 8-10 thousand workers were working at the factory and the production of the factory remained suspended from March 29 to April 7.
Besides, 65 workers of the factory were also fired without giving any prior notice.
The factory authorities pledged to provide a 65 per cent bonus but actually they provided only 50 per cent and declared the factory closed without clearing dues for the whole month, they said.
Failing to realise their dues and payment, the workers staged a demonstration Wednesday morning without joining work.
On information, police tried to disperse them, triggering heated arguments between workers and police.
At one stage, the workers hurled water bottles targeting police, forcing them to charge batons, witnesses said.
The workers also blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway by felling an electric pole.
Mizanur Rahman Mizan, inspector of Bhulta police camp, said that unrest was seen among the workers of Robin Tex and when police asked them to join work, they carried out an attack on police.
Ten police officers were injured during the clash, said Mehedi Hasan, assistant superintendent of Narayanganj police.
‘Police are trying to bring the situation under control,’ he added.