14 injured as spinning mill workers, police clash

At least 14 people were injured as a spinning mill workers and police clashed in Bogura's Sherpur upazila yesterday morning.

The workers of Ronak Spinning Mill Ltd were demanding their salaries for the months of April, May and festival bonus before Eid.

The clash ensued when police charged truncheons and fired rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.

The wounded, including four police personnel, were undergoing treatment at Sherpur Upazila Health Complex, said police.

The workers and the mill authorities were locked in an altercation on Wednesday morning over sacking of four workers when the mill stayed closed from April 6 to May 1.

When the two sacked workers went to join their work, security guards did not allow them.

Workers alleged that Munjur Morshed, general manager (production) of the mill, beat them up, but the allegation could not be verified.

Since then, day-shift workers started demonstrating and then the workers of the night shift joined them, said police.

On information, police rushed to the spot early yesterday.

The authorities did not permit the night-shift workers to enter the mill.

The agitated workers entered the mill yesterday morning. As they threw brick chunks, police charged truncheons and fired rubber bullets, said Gaziur Rahman, additional superintendent of police (Sherpur circle).

Asked, Abul Kashem, general manager (corporate) of the mill, admitted firing of four workers.

He said, "At least 200 workers came to attack our people. They also entered the mill and wanted to set the warehouse on fire. So, we called police."

Police officer Gaziur said the workers again started demonstrating and placed their 12-point demand, including not sacking workers during the crisis, bonus, and salary of the current month before Eid.

He discussed the issues with the mill authorities who accepted the demands.

The workers resumed their work around 2:00pm.

Sabina Begum, a 32-year-old mill worker, said the authorities did not agree to give them full payment for the month of April. When they protested, the authorities did not allow them to enter the mill on Wednesday. They only wanted to give them salaries for six days of April.

She said when they protested together yesterday morning, and police charged truncheons and fired rubber bullets on them.