Sayeed Muhammad of DOT :
A 22-year-old readymade garment (RMG) factory worker has been killed during a clash between workers and police in Ulail area of Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, yesterday.
The ill-fated, Sumon, was a worker at the Al Lima Garments factory at Ulail.
He died from bullet injuries on the left side of his chest, said Savar Upazila Health Complex’s medic Dr Amzadul Haque.
Starting from Sunday, workers of different RMG factories have been waging demonstrations in Dhaka, Savar and Gazipur — demanding changes to their new wage structure.
Apart from Sumon, three other workers were reportedly shot by police during protests yesterday.
The clash and running battles at Ulail that
resulted into Sumon’s death took place around 3:30pm yesterday between the workers of a Standard Group factory and police, on the road in front of that factory, adjacent to the Dhaka-Aricha Highway.
Around that time, the workers of adjacent Al Lima Garments were also leaving their factory, but they ended up getting embroiled in the clash.
Sumon and one of his co-workers got shot when police, apart from lobbing teargas shells, opened fire to disperse the agitated workers and clear the road.
Sumon and another injured, identified as Mukul Hossain, were rushed to the Upazila Health Complex around 4pm; but the duty doctors declared Sumon dead on arrival.
Mukul left the hospital after receiving treatment, doctors said.
At least 15 other workers with critical injuries were also admitted to Enam Medical College and Hospital (EMCH) along with the other Al Lima Garments worker who was shot.
Meanwhile, at least 25 people were injured when police and RMG factory workers clashed in phases at Savar’s Hemayetpur between 8am and 11:30am yesterday.
Ashulia-based Industrial Police 1 unit’s Director Sana Saminur Rahman said, “We charged batons and fired teargas to disperse the workers after they hurled brickbats at us.”