Police, garment workers clash in Mirpur, metro trains diverted

Clashes erupted between garment workers and police this morning as workers blocked roads in Mirpur for a third consecutive day, demanding higher wages and benefits.

Following the clashes, metro trains have been bypassing Mirpur-11 station since 10:22 am after authorities temporarily suspended operations there.

Protesters gathered beneath the Mirpur-11 metro station around 10:30 am. Witnesses said police were positioned on the western side of the station. Groups of workers joined the demonstration from Mirpur-10, Mirpur-12 and alleys near Nanna Market before hurling brickbats at police from three directions.

The workers also piled wooden furniture, including benches, on the road and set them on fire. The incident created tension across Mirpur-11 and surrounding areas.

Police fired sound grenades and tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. Officers also baton-charged several protesters and chased the crowd to disperse them amid chases and counter-chases.

Workers have been demonstrating in Dhaka's Mirpur, Gazipur, and Ashulia for several days over the wage demand, blocking roads.

Eleven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) remain deployed in Gazipur, while over 100 factories in the city and Ashulia areas have declared holidays amid the unrest.

Meanwhile, police on Monday filed four cases against about 10,500 unidentified people in Mirpur and three cases against around 4,000 people in Gazipur over violent garment worker protests for a Tk 30,000 minimum monthly wage.

Law enforcers have arrested 22 people in Mirpur and at least 30 in Gazipur.

Source: Prothom Alo