Dozens of factories halt operations as violence continues in Ashulia

At least 50 garment factories halted operations in the Ashulia industrial area on Wednesday as clashes resumed between police and workers in at least two spots.

One factory official claimed workers from a few factories were involved in the violence to the peril of thousands of other workers employed in a dozens of nearby factories.

He denounced the government and local law enforcement agencies for failure to rein in violence which had been repeatedly stemming from a handful of factories. The officials could not protect the majority of factories, where workers were willing to resume work, despite knowing the “root cause” of the tensions, he alleged.

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On Wednesday morning, workers launched road blockades in Hemayetpur of Savar and Jamgora of Ashulia, demanding higher pay even as multi-stakeholder discussion to this end continues under the government’s initiative.

When police tried to disperse the agitators from the roads, clashes, chases and counter-chases ensued, said Mohammad Mominul Islam, superintendent at Industrial Police-1.

Around 2pm, calm returned to the violence-hit areas, but tensions remained.