Ashulia unrest continue : Workers block highway, clash with cops; 50 hurt,15 held

Police in separate drives arrested 15 people on Monday for their alleged involvement with the labour unrest that forced garment owners to shut down all 350 factories in Ashulia.

At least 50 people, including several police personnel, were injured in the clashes.

Badrul Alam Sheikh, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station, confirmed the arrest of 11 people Monday morning but refrained from disclosing their identification.

They have been arrested in connection with four cases filed with the police station between Thursday and Saturday, the OC said.

Of the cases, Masranga Television filed a case against several hundreds of people on Thursday on charge of torching its vehicle during a clash with the law enforcers.

On the same day, another case was filed on behalf of IDS, a garment factory in Ashulia, bringing allegation of vandalism.

Billal Hossain, sub-inspector of Ashulia Police Station, on Friday filed the third case against 10 local BNP leaders, including Yarpur union parishad chairman Dewan Moyeen Uddin Biplob, for provoking workers to resort to violence.

The last case was filed by another SI Hafizur Rahman Saturday night against 11 local BNP leaders and several hundred unidentified people on charges of vandalising vehicles and obstructing police from performing their duties.

Earlier on Saturday, RMG factory owners decided to shut 350 factories in Ashulia for an indefinite period as garment workers continued to stage violent demonstrations from June 11 for a hike in their wages.

Fuming over the shutdown of the garment factories, agitating workers fought pitched battles with law enforcers on Sunday, leaving at least 50 people including several police personnel injured.

While talking to The Daily Star Monday morning, Fayezul Kabir, deputy director of Industrial Police, said workers are gathering in front of different factories since morning but no unrest took place.

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