The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

In less than a month, violence sparked once again at the apparel factories of the Azim Group yesterday spoiling the production and vandalizing factory assets, offices and the running vehicles here at Kalurghat industrial estate.

The violence reportedly flared over the workers demands for basic wage hike and enhanced fringe benefits. It was reportedly the second phase of the demands that came up recently.

Violence of similar pattern and intensity broke out among the workers of three factories - Orchid Sweater Limited, Savar Sweater Limited and Global Knitwear Limited - of the same group on May 6 this year.

Army called in to tackle the frenzied workers mostly engaged in damaging running vehicles and the wayside establishments.

Police picked up at least 10 demonstrators - Mohammad Shamim, Faruq Osman, Nurunnabi, Mohammad Saiful, Mohammad Belal Hosain, Mohammad Nurul Alam, Suman Sen, Jainal Abedin, Mahfuzur Rahman and Abddus Sukkur -from the spot.

Cops and eye-accounts said that several hundred workers of Orchid Sweater, Global Knitwear and Savar Sweater, came down on the street demanding wage hike and enhanced fringe benefits at about 9:30 a.m. They blocked roads at different points and started vandalizing vehicles on the street.

Though the cops rushed to the spot but failed to quel the angry workers from vandalism. The cops also came under strong chase by the demonstrators. At this stage cops went on action by lobbing teargas cannisters and resorting to massive baton charge leaving several people wounded.

The police and the district administration sought military help sensing possibility of spreading the violence at other parts of the city. Two heavily armed military contingents later dispersed the demonstrators at about 11:00 a.m. They also patrolled the troubled area twice to confirm the tranquility.

In the mean time, Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in a news release issued in the evening said that the management of the apparel factories had to lay off the troubled units under the provisions of the section 13 of Bangladesh Labor Act-2006.

The BGMEA expressed concern over the back-to-back outbreak of labor unrest at the apparel factories and called it a part of well-designed conspiracy against the growth of the industry here.

Leaders of the apex body called upon the government to protect the industry by providing adequate security and required support to foil the conspiracy of the vested quarters.