Clashes between workers and police in Gazipur; tear gas shells, sound grenades fired
Clashes between workers and police in the bypass area of Gazipur. Photo: Shamim-us-Saleheen.
Agitation and clashes occurred again today (Wednesday) in Gazipur over the demand for raising the minimum monthly wage of garment workers to Tk 30,000. Around 10:00 am workers gathered at various points on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway and obstructed vehicular movement.
When police moved to disperse them, clashes broke out between the two groups. Police fired tear shells and sound grenades to bring the situation under control.
Although the situation was normal until 9:00 am today, as the day progressed, workers continued to gather in the Bhogra Bypass, Basan Road, Colombia, Chaydana, Malek's Bari, and Signboard areas. At one stage, they came onto the road and stopped vehicular movement. This halted traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway.
Photo: Shamim-us-Saleheen.
When members of the police and law enforcement agencies chased to disperse the workers, the protesters threw bricks and stones at them. Police fired tear gas and sound grenades to control the situation. Later, the workers took positions in various alleys on both sides of the highway and continued throwing bricks and stones at the police. Police also fired tear gas and sound grenades into those alleys.
As of 10:45 am, a tense situation was prevailing in the area.
Harun Or Rashid, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Basan Police Station, said that around 10:00 am, some workers came onto the road in the Bhogra and Basan Road areas and attempted to blockade the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway. Police chased them away.
Taherul Haque Chowhan, Additional Police Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said that miscreants had taken positions on the highway and attempted to blockade it. Police dispersed them. No one has been arrested in connection with the incident so far.
Meanwhile, in response to the workers' protests, 12 platoons of BGB, 5 platoons of Ansar, and 8 platoons of SRB have been deployed in Gazipur. Under the leadership of 25 executive magistrates of the district administration, members of BGB, Ansar, and other law enforcement agencies have taken positions at various locations.
