Apparel worker dies, 30 injured as clash erupts in Savar

Clashes erupted between labourers and law enforcement following protests in Ashulia, Savar, resulting in the death of one person from gunshot wounds. 

At least 30 workers were injured in the incident, with four sustaining gunshot injuries.

The violence occurred in front of Mandal Group in the Jirabo area along the Tongi-Ashulia-EPZ road on Monday (September 30) around 11:30am. 

The deceased was identified as Kausar Hossain Khan, a 27-year-old worker from the Mango Tex Limited factory in Jirabo. The duty manager at Enam Medical College Hospital confirmed his death around 2:00pm.

Two of the injured who were shot have been identified as Habib, a worker at Natural Denims, and Nazmul Hasan, a worker at Natural Indigo Factory. 

The identities of the other injured workers have not yet been confirmed. Some were admitted to PMK Hospital, while others, including those who were shot, were taken to Enam Medical College Hospital.

According to workers, a tripartite meeting involving the Mandal Group workers, owners, and law enforcement agencies was ongoing in the morning. When no agreement was reached, the workers gathered outside the factory, soon joined by labourers from other nearby factories. 

As tensions escalated, law enforcement and workers confronted each other, and the situation worsened when workers vandalised some RAB and police vehicles. 

In response, the law enforcers began charging batons on the crowd. As the workers grew more agitated, police opened fire to control the situation, resulting in five people being injured. They were quickly taken to local hospitals, where Kausar Hossain Khan was declared dead.

Yusuf Ali, duty manager at Enam Medical College Hospital, confirmed that three people with gunshot wounds were brought to the hospital and that Kausar had succumbed to his injuries. The other two injured workers are currently receiving treatment.

Suman, a worker at Natural Denims, recounted that they had been working in the factory without any disruptions, but when Mandal Group workers began protesting, other factory workers joined in solidarity. The situation escalated with law enforcement's charging batons, eventually leading to the shooting. 

Nazim Uddin, Admin Manager at PMK Hospital, said four injured workers were brought in, two of whom had gunshot wounds to their legs and are undergoing treatment.

Efforts to reach Superintendent of Police Sarwar Alam of Industrial Police-1 for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls.