Garment workers in Mirpur come under attack during wage protest

Workers of a garment factory near Purabi Cinema Hall in Mirpur protesting for a raise allegedly came under an attack on Tuesday morning, resulting in several injuries. 

Soon after, the aggrieved garment workers attacked the factory, blocked the main road and vandalized a bus. They had yet to clear out the road at the time of writing.

The protesters said they had been protesting for the last few days demanding an increase in their wages, before claiming that local Awami League leaders and activists had attacked them.

Policemen tried to bring the situation under control when the two groups chased each other during the skirmish, which soon snowballed into a three-way fight.

Pallabi police station OC Mahfuzur Rahman at noon said a group from the owners’ side of Triple Seven Apparels Ltd had clashed with workers, adding that he was unaware of the reason behind the conflict.

Additional forces had been deployed, and they were trying to ensure order in the area, he said.