Garment workers set police vehicle ablaze on Dhaka-Aricha Highway, 10 injured

At least 10 people, including journalists and police personnel, were injured as garment workers blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway for two hours on Wednesday, demanding a wage hike, an end to blacklisting and the fulfilment of three demands. 

The agitated workers also set fire to a police vehicle during the protest. Vehicular movement returned to normal after law enforcers cleared the highway around 11:00am.

Workers from several garment factories took position on the Dhaka-Aricha highway near Hemayetpur Bus Stand in Savar around 9:00am on Wednesday (4 November), disrupting traffic.

According to eyewitnesses, agitated garment workers gathered in the Padmar Mor area under Tetuljhora Union in the morning and took to the streets.

Police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel tried to disperse them, but the protesters threw bricks and stones at the law enforcers. Police later fired tear gas shells in an attempt to bring the situation under control.

Meanwhile, garment workers also blocked the highway near Hemayetpur Bus Stand around 9:00am to press home their demands.

At around 10:30am, protesters set fire to a police vehicle on the Hemayetpur-Singair road.

Shortly afterwards, journalists Sohan Siraji of Star Television and Raihan Bin of Ekattor TV, along with cameraman Ujjal Hossain, came under attack.

At least 10 people were injured in the subsequent chases and counter-chases between the workers and police.

Meanwhile, workers at several garment factories in Nishchintapur of Ashulia also staged work stoppages. Following the announcement of general holidays at the factories, the workers took to the streets.

They later attempted to block the Bypail-Abdullahpur road, but police dispersed them.

Tension continued in Nishchintapur of Ashulia and Hemayetpur of Savar following the incidents.

Around 11:00am, law enforcement personnel removed the protesting workers from the Dhaka-Aricha highway, restoring normal traffic movement.

Officer-in-Charge of Savar Highway Police Station Md Asaduzzaman Noor said the workers had taken to the highway with three demands.

"They have been removed from the road, and traffic movement is now normal," he said, adding that additional police personnel had been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.