At least two garment workers, including a woman, were injured after police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesting workers in Ashulia, Savar, on Tuesday morning (November 10).

The workers staged demonstrations and work stoppages at several factories in the Jamgora and Nishchintapur areas, demanding a minimum wage and fulfilment of three other demands. Authorities also declared general holidays at several garment factories amid the unrest.

Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tarikul Islam confirmed the incident around 11:30 am.

The injured workers were identified as Alamgir and Raziya. Both sustained rubber bullet injuries. Raziya was hit in the head and later referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

According to police and eyewitnesses, workers at New Age Garments in Nishchintapur arrived for work in the morning and found a notice at the main gate announcing an indefinite closure of the factory. They subsequently began protesting.

Meanwhile, workers at several factories in Jamgora reported for duty but refused to start work, observing a work stoppage.

At one point, the protesting workers gathered in front of the gates of nearby garment factories and attempted to block the Abdullahpur-Baipail road. Police chased the demonstrators and fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse them.

Harun-or-Rashid, operations manager of Ashulia Women and Children Hospital, told Dhaka Post that two garment workers arrived at the hospital with rubber bullet injuries. He said one of them, a female worker, had been hit in the head and was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

OC Tarikul Islam said workers had staged a work stoppage inside factories and later attempted to take to the streets. Police chased them and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

He added that authorities had declared general holidays at several garment factories in Jamgora and Nishchintapur following the incident.