Army, police vehicles torched in Kochukhet amid RMG workers' protest
Two garments workers were shot during the unrest, situation is now normal
An army vehicle and a police van were set on fire amid RMG workers' protest in the Kochukhet area of Mirpur, Dhaka, today (31 October), with two fire service units deployed to extinguish the flames.
Around 9am workers from Centex Fashion Limited and other nearby factories gathered in front of their workplaces after management of the nearby Mousumi Garments was shut down the factory the previous night following a series of altercations. The shutdown led to a larger gathering of workers on the street.
Tensions escalated when police and army personnel arrived in the area. Workers allegedly threw bricks and stones at them. In response, police resorted to baton charges, which led to further unrest.
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"At one point they [the workers] vandalised and set fire to two vehicles of police and army," said Kazi Golam Mostafa, officer-in-charge of Kafrul police station.
"In response, police and army personnel took action to disperse them," the OC added.
Fire Service Duty Officer Lima Khanam said two units of firefighters are working to douse the fire.
"We don't know who started the fire or how," she added.
The army took strict measures to regain control, sealing off the area and restricting movement.
A source from Dhaka Medical College Hospital control room wishing to remain anonymous said, two workers named Al Amin, 17, and Jhuma Akter, 15, were shot in the clash between the law enforcement forces and the garment workers. They have been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
"Al Amin was heading home when he was shot in the back," his coworker Kabir Hossain said, adding that Al Amin, originally from Khulna, lives near the factory in Mirpur-14.
Jhuma's sister, Morjina Begum, reported that Jhuma, a sewing operator at Centex Fashion, was hit in her right leg and was discharged after initial treatment.
Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of the DMCH Police Outpost, confirmed that while Jhuma was released following primary care, Al Amin remains in critical condition and is undergoing surgery.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Centex Managing Director Jashimuddin said workers of Creative Designers had been demanding the resignation of a line chief.
The resignation demands came after the line chief's relative allagedly beat up a factory operator, angering workers.
Yesterday, a meeting was held between law enforcers, the army and workers.
During the meeting, an altercation broke out.
The factory was then shut after Section-13/A of the Labour Law – no work, no pay – was implemented.
Today, the workers again took to the streets demanding punishment of law enforcers who had gotten into an altercation with workers.
The Business Standard reached out to Creative Designers, but no representative was available for comments.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bhashantek police station Shah Mohammad Faisal said, "We have been on the road since morning to control the situation, but workers suddenly started their agitation and pelted brickbats at the police and the army. At one point they set fire to army and police vehicles.
"Now the situation is somewhat under control. Army and police are on the spot," he added.
Maksuder Rahman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Mirpur Division told TBS, "As the protesters hurled brickchips, some police and army personnel were also injured."
When asked about how many RMG workers were shot or injured, he could not clarify and said, "As protests erupted, people from the both sides got injured."
