The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Savar

Over 100 people, including 20 policemen, were injured in a clash between garment workers and police at a garment factory at Export Processing Zone (EPZ) here yesterday.

Witnesses said the workers of Amra Apparel Ltd got furious and came out of their workplaces at about 11am, as the factory authorities announced a decision to retrench some of its workers.

As the tension heightened, police appeared at the spot and sat in a meeting with the factory authorities in a room.

At one stage, the unruly workers damaged the doors, windowpanes, computers and other valuables of the factory, and sprayed fire-extinguishing gas on the police and the factory executives, leaving two people unconscious.

They also put barricades on Kaliakoir-Nabinagar road, disrupting traffic for about an hour.

Later, police fired shots in the air to bring the situation under control and picked up three workers' leaders-Monira Begum, Josna and Salma-from the scene.