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DHAKA: Readymade garment (RMG) workers attempted to take to the streets in small groups through various alleys in the capital’s Mirpur area on Monday, but police chased them and fired several tear gas shells to disperse them.
Around 10:45am, workers tried to enter the streets through an alley in the Senpara Parbata area of Mirpur-10. Police chased them and fired several tear gas shells, forcing the workers to disperse.
Later, workers also attempted to take to the streets near Prashika intersection, beside the Mirpur-2 Stadium. Police drove them away.
Eyewitnesses said workers were arriving in small groups from the Rupnagar area towards Prashika intersection via the Mirpur-2 Stadium. They tried to take to the streets, but police stopped them around 11am, triggering tension between the two sides.
Earlier, workers had attempted to enter the streets through an alley in Senpara Parbata around 10:45am. Police fired several tear gas shells to disperse them, forcing the workers to retreat.
Following two consecutive days of protests and clashes involving garment workers in Mirpur, police and other law enforcement agencies remained on alert from Monday morning.
Police personnel were seen stationed around the Mirpur-10 roundabout and adjoining areas. Riot-control vehicles, water cannons and other police vehicles were kept ready at the roundabout.
Traffic on roads in and around Mirpur-10 remained normal, with no disruption reported. Pedestrians and commuters were moving freely, and the situation appeared calm until 10:30am.
Earlier in the morning, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Joint Commissioner (Crime Prevention-North) Mohidul Islam briefed journalists on the workers’ movement and the police presence in Mirpur.
He said police were investigating whether anyone was involved in attempts to create anarchy, disrupt public safety or damage state property in the name of the workers’ movement.
He added that an investigation was underway to identify those responsible for Sunday’s clashes and the attack on a police vehicle. Intelligence gathering and other police operations were continuing in this regard.
