Bus runs over crowd, kills one in Gazipur
January 27, 2010
Hundreds of garment workers Monday torched a number of vehicles following a road accident that killed an RMG worker at Gazipur Industrial belt.
Traffic movement on Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway remained suspended for almost three hours from 8:30am as the agitators put up barricade and set fire to stranded vehicles on the road that links northeastern part of the country with the capital.
Witnesses said a Dhaka-bound passenger bus Anabil Paribahan ploughed over a roadside crowd after the driver lost control of his vehicle at Board Bazar in Gazipur that left Sujan (22) killed and 10 others injured at about 7:45am.
The injured were admitted to a local hospital for treatment.
The victim, who hailed from Harinakanda village of Sribardi Upazila of Sherpur district, was a worker of Prime Sweater, Joydevpur police said.
As the news of the accident spread, workers of the adjacent apparel units came out on the highway and vandalised dozens of vehicles by blockading the road that resulted in terrible traffic congestion.
The workers set ablaze at least 15 vehicles, including the bus that crushed the worker, in protest against the accident that forced some of the garment factories to suspend production.
Officer-in-Charge of Joydevpur police station Abdur Rashid told the FE that the garment workers went on the rampage over the unfortunate death of one of their fellowmen. “Now the situation is under control,” he added.
On information, firefighters from Gazipur rushed to the spot and doused the burning vehicles.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE), a specialised labour foundation, revealed that at least 351 garment workers were killed and 272 others injured in road accidents last year.
Comments
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.