Garment factory ransacked over death rumour
Star Report
The Daily Star, Bangladesh
Angry workers ransacked a garment factory near CEPZ yesterday following the rumour of death of a fellow worker allegedly assaulted by factory officials on Friday.
Sources said officials of Bandar Knitting (Pvt) Limited near Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) allegedly assaulted factory worker Mujibur on Friday for having fault in his work. He was sent to a local clinic for treatment
The incident created resentment among the factory workers. However, they joined work on Saturday after the authorities assured them of providing proper treatment to Mujibur and taking necessary steps.
But when the rumour of Mujibur’s death spread yesterday, the workers went berserk. They damaged furniture and machinery of the factory.
They also assaulted Mamun, a supervisor of the factory, for his alleged involvement in the attack on Mujibur.
Later, they came out of the factory in a procession and tried to put up barricade on the nearby road.
On information, Rab and policemen rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. A cop was injured in the incident.
50 HURT IN STAMPEDE
Meanwhile, at least 50 garment workers, fearing an outbreak of fire, were injured in a stampede at a sweater factory at Hotapara in Gazipur yesterday, reports UNB.
Local sources said the stampede occurred in the morning when panic-stricken workers of “Zahin Tex†tried to come out of the factory through the staircase after the steam light of the factory snapped with a bang.
Injured workers were given treatment at the factory health centre.
