When the tension did not subside over the death of textile worker Lisa Akhtar in Sripur, Ghazipur, the workers again came out in protest. To control the situation, Shilpa police resorted to lathicharge and fired three rounds of sound grenades. At least 10 to 12 employees were injured in this incident.
The incident took place around 9 am on Saturday morning in front of the Color and Company Limited factory in Tapirbari area of the upazila.
The workers claim that a Milad gathering was organized inside the factory in connection with the death of the worker on Thursday. Workers from Badar Spinning Mills and Color & Company Limited, owned by the Blue Planet Group, were invited. A tense situation arose in front of the factory when workers gathered there since morning.
According to eyewitness workers, suddenly some outsiders joined the workers who had come to take part in the Milad ceremony and started trying to enter the factory. When the police stopped them, an argument and scuffle broke out. Later the police controlled the situation by lathicharge.
The workers allege that some strangers present at the spot deliberately heated up the atmosphere. Due to these the peaceful environment becomes unstable.
A laborer named Alauddin said that some workers of Badr Spinning Mills were injured in the police lathicharge. One of them, named Al Ameen, has been taken to hospital.
Going to the spot, it can be seen that thousands of workers are waiting in front of the factory and on the surrounding roads. A large number of workers were present inside the factory. Although there was a police presence inside, no law enforcement officials were seen outside the gate. The situation calmed down after 11 pm when the employees slowly left the place.
Attempts were made to contact factory officials, but no comment was received from them.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sripur Police Station. Shaheenur Alam told that there was some disturbance when the workers entered the factory in the morning. Later the Industrial Police controlled the situation.
Industrial Police-2, Superintendent of Police, Ghazipur. Amjad Hussain said that three rounds of sound grenades had to be thrown to control the situation. At present the situation is normal and the employees have moved away from the factory.
Tension over worker’s death
The deceased laborer Liza Akhtar (36) is the daughter of Ashraf Ali of Huglabaniya village of Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur. He was working as a swing operator in Color and Company Limited factory in Tapirbari area while living in a rented house in Ansar Road area of Sripur Municipality.
He fell ill while working night shift last Wednesday and later died. Co-workers claimed that pregnant Liza had asked for leave due to illness, yet factory officials did not grant her leave. Angry workers vandalized four-five nearby factories.
3 cases against 1100 people, 3 arrests
Following the incident, officials of Triple Apparel Limited, MHC Apparel Private Limited and Yasmin Textile Mills Limited registered three separate cases at Sripur Police Station on Thursday night.
In the cases, 300 people have been accused in the Triple Apparel attack, 500 in the MHC Apparel attack and 300 unidentified people in the Yasmin Textile Mills attack. A total of 1100 people have been made accused in all three cases. Police have arrested three people so far.