A worker at a readymade garments factory was killed during clashes with joint forces in Ashulia on Monday, amid sporadic confrontations between workers and law enforcers that left several others injured.
The agitated workers also vandalised at least four vehicles of the joint forces and pelted stones at the security forces while law enforcers charged baton and fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters.
The deceased was identified as Kawser Hossain Khan, 26, a worker of Mango Tex Limited located in Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital.
Dhaka district police superintendent Ahmad Muyeed confirmed that a worker died following clashes between the joint forces and workers at Tongibari in Ashulia.
He said that the injured worker was rushed to Enam Medical College Hospital where doctor declared him dead.
鈥楾he cause of death could be confirmed after post mortem,鈥� he said.
Initially, two individuals were reported among the injured鈥擧abib, a worker at Natural Denims, and Nazmul Hasan, a worker at Natural Indigo Factory.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association in a statement said that while the owners were discussing the demands of Mandal Group workers at the company鈥檚 office at Zirabo along Tongi-Ashulia EPZ Road in the presence of army personnel, some outsiders spread rumours about two workers鈥� death and gathered outside the factory.
Workers from other factories soon began to assemble at the scene, leading to a clash with the law enforcers.
Meanwhile, two outsiders fired at the factory from outside, shattering the building鈥檚 windows and damaging furniture, the BGMEA statement claimed.
More law enforcement personnel, meanwhile, arrived at the scene and took position adjacent to the factory.
Tensions escalated as law enforcers and workers confronted the outsiders, resulting in some vehicles belonging to the joint forces being vandalised by both the outsiders and the workers, according to the statement.
It mentioned that 11 law enforcement personnel were also injured during the clashes and were receiving treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.
The BGMEA expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the workers.
The trade body also stated that the family of the deceased worker had been given Tk 5 lakh in compensation and all dues would be promptly paid in accordance with the labour law.
Earlier on September 17, an assistant sewing machine operator named Rokeya Begum, 35, of Mascot Garments was killed during a clash between the workers in Zirabo area of Ashulia.
Garment factory owners, meanwhile, on Monday demanded enhanced security measures to keep their factories operational as almost every day the factories in the Ashulia industrial belt were being forced to close due to labour unrest.
On September 24, garment factory owners agreed to all the 18 demands, including increase in attendance, tiffin and night allowances, put forth by the protesting workers in an effort to restore normalcy.
Workers in the Ashulia area had been protesting since August 29.
The labour situation initially improved on September 15 following a tripartite discussion among labour leaders, factory owners, and the government.
But the situation has since deteriorated again as fresh workers鈥� protests resumed with new demands.
At a view exchange meeting with reporters held at the BGMEA headquarters in the city, factory owners lamented that despite addressing the major demands of the workers, factories in the industrial hub were being forced to close down daily with 31 factories shutting down on Monday alone.
Out of 31 factories, 12 units enforced the 鈥榥o work no pay鈥� provision under Section 13(1) of Bangladesh Labour Act,聽 while 19 factories ceased production shortly after opening due to unrest.
During the view exchange meeting, BGMEA senior vice-president Abdullah Hil Rakib said that if the owners were forced to shut production every day for labour unrest it would lead many factories to become sick.
He demanded tight security for their business.
Fashion.com Ltd managing director Khan Monirul Alam remarked that while a factory might face internal issues, this should not result in a section of workers attacking other factories, vandalising property, and inciting unrest by spreading false information.
鈥榃e want safety and security of our businesses and the state is responsible to ensure security of the industry,鈥� he said.
He also criticised the law enforcement agencies and labour union leaders saying that they were not playing their due roles to keep the industry operational.聽聽
鈥榃e have every right to expect safety and security from the government, and if they fail to provide it, they must make that clear. We do not want to operate our business at the risk of our lives,鈥� Monirul said.
AR Jeans managing director Nazmul Kabir said that following a suggestion from the Bangladesh Army, he formed a protection team of 300 workers to safeguard the factory from vandals.
AR Jeans Producer Ltd, a LEED-certified top-rated green factory, narrowly escaped a significant arson attack even though its gate and generator room were set on fire on Sunday.
Nazmul said that there was no unrest in his factory but outsiders were repeatedly attempting to set his factory on fire.
鈥楳iscreants targeted my factory with torches, intending to set it ablaze in response to my initiative to establish this protection team,鈥� he said.
On the other hand, several hundred workers staged demonstration in front of a factory of Birds Group located at Baipail in Ashulia demanding their dues.
Authorities announced shut the factoriy on August 27 and signed an agreement with workers to pay their wages and benefits on September 30.
But factory authorities on Sunday issued a notice postponing the payment date by three months.
In the meantime, allegations have emerged that some trade union leaders received bribes from factory authorities to manage worker unrest caused by non-payment.
抖阴精品 has obtained three receipts showing that labour leaders received payments from the Birds Group, amounting to Tk 5 lakh, Tk 2.3 lakh and Tk 1 lakh.
One of the officials from the Birds Group, speaking unanimously, admitted to bribing the labour leaders.
Some local labour activists alleged that Ibrahim Hossain, a regional leader of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, coordinated the bribery scheme.
Despite repeated attempts, Ibrahim could not be reached for comment.
Babul Akter, president of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, told 抖阴精品 that they received allegations against Ibrahim and instructed him not to participate in any programmes with the federation鈥檚 leadership.
BGMEA senior vice-president Abdullah-Hil Rakib said that they asked the Birds Group to pay workers dues as early as possible.
