RMG workers go berserk in capital over road death of colleague

Several thousand garment workers resorted to vandalism and blocked roads around the capital's Kamalapur Railway Station yesterday over rumours that several fellows had been killed in a road accident on Monday night and their bodies concealed.

One Aklima Akter of Olio Apparels Ltd in Uttar Kamalapur was killed and at least three others were injured, which The Daily Star learned from co-workers and police.

A bus of Balaka Paribahan hit them while they were crossing a road near the station around 8:30pm on their way home from work.

Rehana Begum, Hazera Begum and Jashim are being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Police arrested the driver, Mohammad Arif, and seized the vehicle and a case was filed with Shahjahanpur Police Station yesterday. 

The around five and a half hour long agitation ended around 2:00pm after officials of Olio, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and police assured compensating the victims.

The demonstrators vandalised several buses and set fire to garbage, creating panic among locals, while traffic movement collapsed in Motijheel, Arambagh and Kamalapur areas leading to long tailbacks around the capital.

Nasima Begum, a fellow who narrowly escaped injury, told The Daily Star that Arif was racing with another bus driver. "(He) has to be given exemplary punishment," she demanded.

Another, Sharmin Akter, "We came out onto the streets as we want proper compensation...treatment...and a stop to such deaths."

Peyara Begum and Saidul Islam, from Supreme Apparels Limited at Shantinagar, said they heard at least five people including three garment workers were killed and all the bodies, except Aklima's, were concealed.

Abdul Mabud, inspector (investigation), Shajahanpur Police Station, confirmed the rumour.

Kazi Taslim Uddin, an Olio official, said Aklima's family would get Tk 2 lakh while treatment of the inured would be borne.