A Correspondent :
At least 15 RMG workers were injured in an “attack” by cops on over 3,000 workers of a factory in Chittagong during a demonstration for holding a trade union election while in Savar around 20,000 workers protested at their workplaces demanding fixing their minimum wage on Monday.
In Chittagong city, the workers of Clifton Deluxe Fashions Ltd kept Baizid Bostami Road blocked for an hour in the evening, demanding that their factory’s trade union election be held, reports our staff correspondent.
They claimed that 40 workers were injured in the attack and admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
The factory’s quality inspector Md Hanif told journalists , “The authorities had earlier formed a trade union for three years that actually protects the owner’s interests, not the workers’. We are demanding such a union, leaders of which would be elected by workers.”
“But the authorities are not heeding our demand. Instead, they are trying to keep the existing trade union sans elections,” he said.
“Some representatives of the workers went to discuss it, but the management declined to talk. Later, when they were peacefully rallying…in front of factory, the police swooped on them as the factory authorities suggested doing so,” Hanif further alleged.
Assistant Commissioner (Panchlaish Zone) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Zahangir Alam said the police dispersed the demonstrators by firing tear gas and rubber bullets as they blocked the road, which was causing a tailback in the area.
Officer-in-Charge of Baizid Police Station Md Mohsin claimed that some four to five of their colleagues were also injured as the protesters hurled brickbats.
Md Mohiuddin, the factory’s director and chief executive officer, said, a group of outsiders spread a rumour that some workers were being kept captive inside the factory, enraging the other workers.
“Trade union is approved by the Labour Directorate, and the management has nothing to do with this,” he added.
A decision was taken to form a ten-member committee to hear and convey their demands to the authorities, he said.
In Ashulia of Savar, around 20,000 workers of 15 garment factories went on a strike and demonstrated, demanding fixing Tk 15,000 as their minimum wage, adds a correspondent.
Currently, on an average they are getting Tk 7,000, according to the workers and Industrial Police. Workers of around seven factories started their movement on December 12, who were later joined by workers of other plants joined to press home the demand.
Yesterday, with the authorities keeping the factories closed to avoid any untoward incident, some workers tried to block the Dhaka-Tangail highway at Jamgora around 11:00am, but the police foiled the move, said witnesses.
At least 15 RMG workers were injured in an “attack” by cops on over 3,000 workers of a factory in Chittagong during a demonstration for holding a trade union election while in Savar around 20,000 workers protested at their workplaces demanding fixing their minimum wage on Monday.
In Chittagong city, the workers of Clifton Deluxe Fashions Ltd kept Baizid Bostami Road blocked for an hour in the evening, demanding that their factory’s trade union election be held, reports our staff correspondent.
They claimed that 40 workers were injured in the attack and admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
The factory’s quality inspector Md Hanif told journalists , “The authorities had earlier formed a trade union for three years that actually protects the owner’s interests, not the workers’. We are demanding such a union, leaders of which would be elected by workers.”
“But the authorities are not heeding our demand. Instead, they are trying to keep the existing trade union sans elections,” he said.
“Some representatives of the workers went to discuss it, but the management declined to talk. Later, when they were peacefully rallying…in front of factory, the police swooped on them as the factory authorities suggested doing so,” Hanif further alleged.
Assistant Commissioner (Panchlaish Zone) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Zahangir Alam said the police dispersed the demonstrators by firing tear gas and rubber bullets as they blocked the road, which was causing a tailback in the area.
Officer-in-Charge of Baizid Police Station Md Mohsin claimed that some four to five of their colleagues were also injured as the protesters hurled brickbats.
Md Mohiuddin, the factory’s director and chief executive officer, said, a group of outsiders spread a rumour that some workers were being kept captive inside the factory, enraging the other workers.
“Trade union is approved by the Labour Directorate, and the management has nothing to do with this,” he added.
A decision was taken to form a ten-member committee to hear and convey their demands to the authorities, he said.
In Ashulia of Savar, around 20,000 workers of 15 garment factories went on a strike and demonstrated, demanding fixing Tk 15,000 as their minimum wage, adds a correspondent.
Currently, on an average they are getting Tk 7,000, according to the workers and Industrial Police. Workers of around seven factories started their movement on December 12, who were later joined by workers of other plants joined to press home the demand.
Yesterday, with the authorities keeping the factories closed to avoid any untoward incident, some workers tried to block the Dhaka-Tangail highway at Jamgora around 11:00am, but the police foiled the move, said witnesses.
