Several hundred workers of a readymade garment factory at Mirpur-1 in the capital on Monday blocked the road in front of Sony Cinema Hall of the area and clashed with police over their demands including reinstatement of fellow workers and payment of dues.Witnesses said around 300 workers of Meridian Fashions Limited in Mirpur-1 also vandalised some vehicles and smashed glasses of a factory while police charged baton to disperse the workers.Workers said they had been demonstrating for the last few days demanding reinstatement of 20of their fellow workers who were sacked in connection with the recent workers’ unrest.In the morning, the workers again went to the factory management to place their demands which also included payment of their arrears but the management declined the demands.Agitated, the workers immediately took to the streets stopping traffic around 10:30am, pressing their demands.On information, police rushed to the spot and asked the workers to leave the street but the workers continued their blockade.At least 10 people, including three police officers, were injured in the clash that erupted while police charged baton to disperse the workers and the workers pelted stones on the police.Witnesses said the workers vandalised some vehicles on the road and smashed the glass of a factory.The clash and counter-clash suspended traffic till 4:30pm until police assured the workers of addressing the issue immediately.The workers were in negotiation at Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association with the factory management.Amid workers unrest, the factory management announced closure of their unit until the situation was normal. BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman said the workers agreed to continue production from tomorrow while the factory authorities also assured them of meeting their demands.Mirpur police deputy commissioner Masud Ahmed said cases were underway in this connection. ‘Three police officers were injured in the clash,’ he said.
