22 injured in Khaishpur, Sirajganj clashes
Ten persons were injured and 19 autorickshaws damaged in a clash between transport workers and jute mill employees at Khalishpur New Road intersection yesterday morning, our Staff Correspondent reported from Khulna.
The clash ensued as autorickshaw drivers ignored a call for indefinite rail-road blockade given by Patkal Sangram Parishad (PSP) to press its demands.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The blockade programme that again began on Tuesday at three important points of Khulna-Jessore industrial belt disrupted road transport services on long and short routes from Khulna.
It also halted train services for the second day yesterday.
Eyewitnesses said a large number of jute mill workers went on rampage at Daulatpur autorickshaw stand as drivers defied the call.
Chase and counter chase continued there for about half- an-hour, during which the clashing groups exchanged brickbats and clubs.
The eight-point demands of over 20,000 workers and employees of eight state-owned jute mills in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt also include reinstatement of retrenched workers, reopening of closed jute mills and allocation of funds to buy jute to run the mills properly.
In Sirajganj, at least 12 people including the DGM of Sirajganj Quami Jute Mills and some leaders of employees union were injured in an attack by some workers yesterday during demonstrations for arrear salaries and Eid bonus.
The attackers also ransacked and damaged furniture at DGM's office. The injured were admitted to clinics in the town, reports our correspondent.
About 4000 workers and employees of the mill have been staged demonstrations for last few days to press their eight-point demand including payment of arrear salaries and Eid bonu. But they were not paid till yesterday.
Police and mill sources said the workers and employees besieged the DGM office mill at 9 am. At one stage, a section of the workers became unruly as they did not get any assurance from the mill authorities about payment of salary and Eid bonus. They attacked DGM Boni Israil Shelly and some leaders of the employees union as they failed to fulfill their demands.
Of the injured, condition of employee Anowar Hossain is critical.
On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control by charging batons.
A tense situation is prevailing in the mill compound. Additional police have been deployed in the area to avoid any more violence, mill officials said.