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Army and police vehicles set on fire in Kochukhet during protest by RMG workers
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Army and police vehicles set on fire in Kochukhet during protest by RMG workers

Two textile workers were shot during the incidents, the situation is normal now

TBS Report

31 October 2024 11:45

Last modified: 31 October 2024, 12:32

Protesters damaged police and army vehicles and opened fire in Mirpur’s Kachukhet area this morning. Photo: “TBS”

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Protesters damaged police and army vehicles and opened fire in Mirpur's Kachukhet area this morning. Photo: “TBS”

Protesters damaged police and army vehicles and opened fire in Mirpur’s Kachukhet area this morning. Photo: “TBS”

An army vehicle and a police van were set on fire during a protest by RMG workers in Kachukhet area in Dhaka’s Mirpur today (October 31) and two fire brigade units were deployed to extinguish the flames.

The incident took place when garment workers at Diana Garments staged a protest on Mirpur-14 Kachukhet road, demanding various demands and trying to block traffic.

Tension increased further when police and gendarmerie teams arrived in the region. The workers allegedly threw bricks and stones at them. In response, the police’s use of batons led to further unrest.

“At one point, they (workers) destroyed two vehicles belonging to the police and the army and set them on fire,” said Kazi Golam Mostafa, head of Kafrul police station.

Army stands guard during labor protest in Mirpur, Dhaka, on October 31, 2024. Photo: Collected

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Army stands guard during labor protest in Mirpur, Dhaka, on October 31, 2024. Photo: Collected

Army stands guard during labor protest in Mirpur, Dhaka, on October 31, 2024. Photo: Collected

“In response, police and army personnel moved to disperse them,” the OC added.

Fire Officer Lima Khanam said two fire departments worked to extinguish the fire.

“We don’t know who started the fire and how,” he added.

The military took strict measures to regain control, sealing off the area and restricting movement.

A source from the control room of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, said that two workers, Al Amin and Ruma Begum, were shot in a clash between law enforcement officers and garment workers. They were admitted to Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Hospital.

Shah Mohammad Foisal, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bhashantek police station, said: “We were on the road since morning to control the situation, but the workers suddenly started agitating and pelted bricks at the police and army. At one point, they set fire to Army and police vehicles.

“Currently, the situation is under control to some extent. The army and police are on the scene,” he added.

Maksuder Rahman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Mirpur Division, told TBS: “Some police and army personnel were also injured as protesters hurled brick fragments.”

When asked how many RMG employees were shot or injured, he could not give a clear explanation, saying, “As the protests broke out, people were injured on both sides.”