Gazipur, Bangladesh (BBN)– The workers of a ready-made garments (RMG) unit vandalized several factories at Kashimpur on Sunday and staged street protest to realize their 8-point-demand, including pay hike.
Police and locals said, several hundred workers of Cotton Club BD, a concern of Mandal Group, staged demonstration in the factory abstaining from duty in the morning. At one stage they ransacked the factory damaging its machinery, accessories, furniture, clothes and fabrics from 8am to 9:30am.
Being informed police rushed in and used clubs, lobbing several rounds of tear gas shells to drive them out of the factory.
Infuriated by police action, the workers came out of the factory and swooped on several other adjacent RMG units of the Kashimpur Industrial zone, damaging at least six.
The angry workers also staged street protest in support of their demands, which also include an end to harassment of workers by the factory authorities, retrenchment and non-payment of their dues.
The workers ransacked Montex Fabrics, Alim Knitwear, Ema Syntex and three other RMG units during their violent protests which continued until about 10 am, according to reports.
As a tense situation prevailed at the RMG units, the management declared the factories closed for three days.
BBN/SSR/AD-24Feb13-9:09 pm (BST)
