Female garment worker killed in clash with police in Gazipur

A female worker was killed and at least 10 others injured in a clash between police and garment workers at Konabari area in Gazipur on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Anjuara Khatun, a sewing machine operator at Islam Garments-2 and hailed from Chargirish area at Kazipur upazila in Sirajganj.

Her husband Jamal Hossain and brother Mostofa said she was injured in the clash and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the on-duty declared her dead. 

Bachchu Miah, In-charge of the DMCH police camp, confirmed the death to Jago News. 

He said two bullet-injured people were taken to the hospital from Gazipur’s Konabari. Of them, Anjuara was declared dead and kept at the morgue. The concerned police station was informed about the matter. 

Source said RMG workers have been demonstrating in different parts of Gazipur for long demanding the wage hike. The government set the minimum wage for RMG workers at Tk12,500 on Tuesday. The RMG workers rejected the new minimum wage and started demonstrating in the morning. Police obstructed them when they tried to take position on the highway. At one stage, the workers locked into clash with the police and hurled brick chips at them. In reply, police fired rubber bullets, sound grenades and tear shells on them, leaving 11 injured. Of the injured, two including Anjuara were taken to the DMCH. 

Khairul Alam, Additional Deputy Police Commissioner of Konabari Police Station, said he is not sure about the death of the female worker but she was taken to the DMCH in a critical condition.