Police charge baton to disperse demonstrating garment factory workers in Gazipur

Police fired rubber bullets, tear shells and charged baton on garments workers who were demonstrating against the termination of 85 operators in Gazipur's Kaliakair upazila.   

Workers of Incredible Fashion Limited vandalised several windows and damaged some sewing machines at the factory in Matikata area around 11:00am.

They continued the demonstration till 2:00pm, our Gazipur correspondent reports.

When the workers went to the factory in the morning, they found a notice in front of the main gate, saying that 85 operators were terminated as the authorities decided to shut two sections for an indefinite period due to financial losses.

The authorities said they will inform the workers through issuing notice once the two sections resume operation. But after seeing the notice, the workers started vandalising inside the factory.

On information, members of Kaliakair Police Station and industrial police rushed to the spot but the workers hurled brickbats on them -- forcing the law enforcers to fire rubber bullets and teargas shells.

Police also charged baton on them to bring the situation under control.

The workers claimed that the 85 operators were terminated as they have been demonstrating against the termination of a floor-in-charge over the last few days.

Manager of the factory, Bodruzzaman, said they were trying to settle the matter through discussion.

Confirming the incident, Inspector of Industrial Police, Farhad Abbas, said a number of police personnel were injured when the workers hurled brickbats at them. Police fired 19 teargas canisters to bring the situation under control, he added.