The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Angry garment workers yesterday morning set ablaze and damaged a number of vehicles following the death of a female garment worker in a road accident at Kanchpur in Rupganj of Narayanganj district

They also put up barricade on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, disrupting the movement of vehicles for one and a half hours.

Unruly workers also injured at least 20 people, including seven policemen, while the law enforcers tried to calm down the commotion.

Police said a bus of 'Meghalay Paribahan' ran over three workers of Jaya Garments at Kanchpur at about 6:45am, killing one on the spot and injuring two others seriously.

The deceased was identified as Jahanara Begum. Injured Rajib and Sohrab were admited to a local hospital.

The accident sparked off violence as the angry workers of Square, Jaya, Sajib and Sinha garments took to the street at about 7:00am.

The enraged workers put up barricade on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, disrupting traffic for hours. They also damaged a number of vehicles and set afire a bus of Meghalay Paribahan.

They also invited the workers of nearby Sinha Garments to join their agitation. But receiving no response, the workers tried to atack Sinha Garments.

At one stage, the unruly workers engaged in clashes with the workers of Sinha Garments. Witnessing this the on-duty Ansars shot blank fire to disperse the agitated workers.

On information, police, rushed to the scene to tackle the situation. But, the workers atacked them with sticks and pelted brick bats, leaving at least 20 people including seven police injured.

Later, RAB and Army reinforcement along with police brought the situation under control at about 9:30am.