At least 50 people were injured as
police clashed with several hundred garment workers blocking the Dhaka-Tangail
and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways at Nawjor area of Sadar upazila in Gazipur
Tuesday over rumoured deaths of fellows.
Demonstrators
vandalized dozens of vehicles suspending traffic on the two inter-district
highways for several hours.
At
least 10 apparel factories were partially damaged during the pitched battle. Police
fired 90 rounds of shotgun bullets and 10 rounds of teargas canisters to
disperse the agitators, who retaliated by throwing stones.
Office in-charge of Tongi police
station and three other lawmen were among the injured.
Critically injured 17
persons were admitted to different local hospitals.
Witnesses said a rumor had been in the air for last few days that some workers of Diganta Sweater Factory died in the factory toilet and the authority hid the bodies.
In the meantime RMG Officials have said that the government has failed to bring the situation under control.
The military-controlled interim
government on Tuesday ordered law enforcement agencies to go tough against
people responsible for dipping law and order in view of sporadic violent
incidents over non-payment of wages and other benefits in readymade garments
sector.
The
directives was given at the 18th meeting of the council of advisers' committee
on law and order at the secretariat presided over by the home affairs adviser,
MA Matin.