Md Joynal Abedin Khan with Mehidi Hasan Biplob :
Several thousand Readymade Garment (RMG) workers have vowed to continue fight for pure drinking water in all factories across the country.
Thousands of co-workers demonstrated to show their sympathy to 60 sick employees, who were admitted to hospitals and clinics after drinking contaminated water in last two days.
All the workers from nearby factories joined the Newtex Factory workers and blocked After few minutes, the demonstrators began chanting slogans for salaries (till August), arrear dues and safety measurement, they said.
The commuters’ sufferings intensified when several hundred transports including passenger buses, were seen stranded on both sides of the road centering the 25-kilometer long tailback.
Following information, law enforcers rushed to road and tried to convince the agitators by holding discussion with the factory owners and local administration and public representatives.
But they vowed to continue the blocking programme compelling the law enforcers to resort to baton-charge on the workers. At least 20 workers were hurt during the police action. At that time, the demonstrators vandalized at least 70 vehicles on the highway.
Fearing worsening situation, the authorities declared the closure of 70 factories for a day. These factories are likely to resume today (Monday) if the situation remains normal, local sources said.
At one stage, the situation became under control when the high officials of Police and garment union leaders interviewed.
The plying of transport resumed around 2:15pm on Sunday.
Seeking anonymity, a female worker of Newtex Factory, said that they demanded the safe drinking water and payment of their wages and other dues.
“We have requested the authorities for safe drinking water, but they were paying no heed ,” she said.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Gazipur Industrial Police Amirul Islam said, “Police requested the workers to disperse from the highway after assuring them that their demands for due wages and the availability of safe drinking water would be met.”
Gachha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kazi Ismail Hossain said: “70 factories were shut down in a bid to stop the unrest.”
Police charged batons and lobbed several rounds of teargas shells to disperse the agitators around 1:45pm, said Kazi Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge of Gachha Police Station.
Reza Bin Hafiz, an Ambulance Driver, said, “A serious patient was boarded inside an ambulance for going to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, but the relatives of the patients became frustrated due to the blockade”
