This morning, protests in Dhaka’s Kafrul and Mirpur-14 escalated into violence as garment workers clashed with police and army personnel over the sudden closure of a local factory. Two workers were shot, resulting in several injuries. The injured, Al Amin Hossain, 17, and Jhuma Akhter, 15, both from Centex Fashions Ltd, were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Jhuma was treated for a gunshot wound to her leg and discharged, while Al Amin remains in surgery for a bullet wound to his back, according to hospital officials. Witnesses reported that the protests began around 8:30 a.m. and quickly drew workers from nearby factories. Clashes with law enforcement lasted until about 10:00 a.m., with tensions remaining high for some time. Kabir Hossain, a coworker, claimed police opened fire during the altercation. Al Amin was reportedly shot while returning home, and Jhuma’s sister confirmed her injury. During the unrest, police and army vehicles were vandalized and set on fire. In response, law enforcement worked to disperse the crowd, with gunfire heard in the area. Videos on social media showed protesters fleeing amid the chaos. Firefighters were called to extinguish the burning vehicles, and traffic was disrupted. The Mirpur Traffic Division rerouted vehicles until around 11:00 a.m., when traffic returned to normal. This incident highlights ongoing concerns in the garment industry, where workers are increasingly protesting for better job security, payment and working conditions.
Source: The Daily Star
