As tensions over the death of garment worker Lisa Akhtar in Ghazipurโs Sreepur have not subsided, workers have again erupted in protest. Shilpa police attacked and fired three sound grenades to bring the situation under control. At least 10-12 workers were injured in the incident.
The incident occurred in front of the Color & Co. factory. Ltd. in Tepirbari upazila around 9 am on Saturday.
Workers said a Milad Mahfil was organized at the factory premises following the death of a worker on Thursday. Workers from Blue Planet Groupโs Badar Spinning Mills and Color & Co. were invited. Ltd. A tense situation was created in front of the plant when workers gathered there in the morning.
According to eyewitness workers, the workers who had come to participate in the Milad ceremony were suddenly joined by several outsiders with sticks and tried to enter the factory. When they were stopped by police, a scuffle and altercation ensued. The police later brought the situation under control using batons.
The workers claimed that some strangers present at the scene deliberately escalated the situation. Because of them, the peaceful situation becomes unstable.
A worker named Alauddin reported that some workers at the Badra spinning mill were injured in a police attack. One of them, Al Amin, was taken to the hospital.
As you approach the scene, you can see thousands of workers standing in front of the plant and on the surrounding roads. The factory employed a large number of workers. Although there was a police presence inside, no law enforcement officers were visible outside the gates. The situation calmed down after 23:00, when the workers gradually dispersed.
There were attempts to contact the plant management, but no comments were received from them.
In-charge of Sreepur Police Station. Shahinur Alam said that in the morning, when workers entered the factory, unrest began. Later, the industrial police took control of the situation.
Industrial Police-2, Superintendent of Police, Ghazipur. Amjad Hossain said he had to throw three rounds of sonic grenades to control the situation. Currently the situation is normal, the workers have left the front of the plant.
Stress over death of worker
The late laborer Lisa Akhtar (36) is the daughter of Ashraf Ali from Khooglabaniya village in Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur. He worked as a swing operator at the Color & Co. factory. Ltd in Tepirbari area in a rented house in Ansar Road area of โโSreepur Municipality.
He fell ill while working the night shift last Wednesday and later died. Colleagues claimed that the plant management did not provide it, although pregnant Lisa asked for sick leave. Angry workers destroyed four or five nearby factories.
3 cases against 1100 people, 3 arrests
Following this incident, authorities of Triple Apparel Limited, MHC Apparel Private Limited and Yasmin Textile Mills Limited filed three separate cases at the Sreepur police station on Thursday evening.
In these cases, 300 people were accused of attacking Triple Apparel, 500 of attacking MHC Apparel and 300 unidentified persons of attacking Yasmin Textile Mills. A total of 1,100 people have been charged in the three cases. So far, police have arrested three people.