Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – At least 50 people including five policemen were injured in a clash between agitating apparel workers and police following the death of a fellow worker in Saver on Monday. 

The unruly workers of a garment factory at Hemayetpur in Savar vandalized different floors of the factory and clashed with police that injured at least 50 people, police and locals confirmed.  

Humayun Kabir, a quality inspector of Dress World Ltd under Vertex Group, died at his residence while the workers alleged that he died inside the factory, police said 

As the news of Kabir’s death spread among the factory workers, they blamed the owners of the factory for his death. The agitated workers ransacked the factory.

The agitators also put barricade on Hemayetpur-Singair road for about two hours from 2:00pm (local time).

Police fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters to disperse the clashing workers who retaliated with bamboo sticks and by hurling brickbats, according to reports. 

A tense situation was prevailing in the area even though a huge number of additional forces were deployed there to avert further clashes.

Apparel made up 80 percent of Bangladesh's $15.56 billion in exports last year. The country's more than 4,500 factories employ some 3.5 million workers--most of them women.

 

BBN/SSR/SI/AD-27July10-4:11 am (BST)