Cotton mill fined for assaulting workers

A mobile court yesterday fined the authorities of a cotton mill Tk 15,000 on the charge of assaulting its workers, hurling expletives and misbehaving with them in Gazipur.

Workers of Aman Cotton Mills Ltd of Aman Group in Shreepur said they had been applying for resignation for 15 days over "low salaries".

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The authorities, however, forced them to work instead of accepting their resignation, leading the workers to abstain from work yesterday. At one stage, some people loyal to the mill Director Shafiullah attacked the protesters with sticks, injuring at least 10 workers. Of them, Chandni, 18, and Kantna, 18, took treatment at a local hospital.

The workers made a complaint to the upazila nirbahi office and the mobile court which summoned Shafiullah and fined him under the labour act, said Executive Magistrate of the court Masum Reza.

Shah Kamal, senior administrative manager of Amantex Ltd of Aman Group, said the workers were injured while walking down the stairs. He declined to comment on other issues.