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A police pickup truck was set on fire during clashes between police and protesting garment workers in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Sunday.
The incident took place in front of Purbabi Cinema Hall around noon, according to Pallabi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jalal Uddin, who confirmed the incident to bdnews24.com.
A firefighting team from the Pallabi Fire Service Station was dispatched to the scene after receiving reports of the blaze, said Anwar Islam Dolon, an official at the Fire Service headquarters’ media cell.
Garment workers from several factories in Mirpur began demonstrations on Sunday morning, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 and other benefits. At one stage, they blocked the Mirpur-10 roundabout, disrupting traffic in the area.
Police attempted to disperse the protesters using batons and sound grenades. Although the workers later moved away from the Mirpur-10 intersection, traffic movement had yet to return to normal.
Abu Naser Rikabdar, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Mirpur Division, told bdnews24.com around noon that clashes were still ongoing and police were trying to disperse the protesters. He said further details would be provided later.
Garment workers also staged road blockades in several parts of Mirpur on Saturday, including Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-12 and Proshika intersection, disrupting traffic.
On Thursday, hundreds of workers blocked roads at the Mirpur-10 roundabout before staging another blockade near Purbabi Cinema Hall and Metro Rail Station 11. The two rounds of demonstrations disrupted traffic for nearly six hours.
Garment workers have been protesting for several days, demanding that the minimum monthly wage be raised to Tk 30,000.
Meanwhile, Labour Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury Arif announced on Sunday that a wage board would be formed for garment workers.