The workers of the Esquire Knit Composite Ltd went on out on demonstrations, blocked the road and rampaged through Kachpur at Sonargaon demanding increase in attendance bonus and more holidays for workers at the factory.
The workers attacked and vandalised the factory during the agitation. They also attacked and set fire to a police camp near by. Road communications had been snapped for four hours beginning 8:00am on the Dhaka�Sylhet Highway during the demonstrations.
The workers damaged 10 vehicles and set two motorcycles on fire on the highway when they had blocked the road.
Witnesses said Esquire Knit workers had pushed for their demands, including increase in attendance bonus and more holidays for a couple of weeks. But the factory authorities did not do anything but giving assurances.
As the demands were not met, the workers went out on demonstrations in front the main factory gate.
The workers blocked the road, vandalised the factory and vehicles and set fire to the police camp.
As the police tried to disperse the workers, they attacked the police, who fired blan gunshots, rubber bullets and teargas shells. When the demonstrators left the place, security personnel cordoned off the garment factory and the police deployment was reinforced.
The factory authorities later announced Monday a holiday and announced to hold a tripartite meeting with worker leaders and the local administration to resolve the issue on Tuesday.
The Sonargaon police officer-in-charge, Mohammed Younus Ali, said they had arrested 16 workers at the spot during the clash.
The police superintendent, Biswas Afzal Hossain, said the police were investigating whether there had been any provocation from outside in the incident.
Police subinspector Abul Hossain, in charge of the camp set on fire, filed a case against the 16 arrested and 4,000 to 5,000 unnamed factory workers.
source : The new Age
