Six held for ‘attempted vandalism’ at closed Gazipur factory

Six people have been arrested on allegations of causing unrest during a protest at a closed food production factory in Gazipur’s Kaliakoir.

Army personnel arrested them during a protest at the ‘Cocola Food Product Limited Factory’ in the Mouchak area of the Upazila on Monday morning, said Inspector Nitai Chandra Sarkar of the Gazipur Industrial Police (Zone-2).

The six detainees are Khokon Mia, Shohag Mia, Nazmul Mia, Ujjal Hossain, Shakil Ahmed, and Mobarak Hossain.

Industrial police have been unable to confirm whether they are workers.

Workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway for half an hour before the incident. Police and army personnel dispersed the workers when the incident was reported.

Factory owners have announced the indefinite closure of three separate factories in Kaliakoir.

The industrial police and factory workers say that the workers of the Cocola Food Product Limited Factory have been protesting since Sunday morning for a 12-point list of demands, which include a minimum wage of Tk 12,500, an attendance bonus of Tk 800, and public and annual holidays.

At one point, the protesters blocked the Dhaka-Tangail road near the factory. The owners then closed the factory indefinitely.

Witnesses say that even after the factory was closed, workers protested in front of it on Monday morning. Around 9am they blocked the Dhaka-Tangail road. At one point, workers broke into the factory and attempted to vandalise it.

After the incident was reported, industrial police, local police, and army personnel chased the protesters. They detained six people for illegally entering the factory and trying to create unrest.

Army personnel used a megaphone to order the protesters to disperse and the situation returned to normal around 9:30am.

Abbas Uddin, a worker at the factory, said that over 5,000 workers are employed at the factory and they are given a minimum wage of Tk 8,000.

“That money isn’t enough for rent and food. So, for a long time, we have been demanding a minimum wage of Tk 12,500. But the owners aren’t taking any action.”

Factory police said that three factories in the Safipur Bazar area have been closed indefinitely due to the protests.

Inspector Nitai said: “Even after the factories were closed, agitated workers entered the factory forcefully. Legal action will be taken against the detained workers.”

“The workers had tried to occupy the Dhaka-Tangail highway and block it. But the situation has now returned to normal.”