Protest as GCC garbage truck kills RMG worker

A garment worker died under the wheels of a Gazipur City Corporation garbage truck today, igniting a protest that briefly blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.

According to RMG workers, locals and police, Munira, a worker of Liz Apparels, died on the spot after a Gazipur City Corporation garbage truck ran over her in the Kunia Barabari area of Gazipur around 8:30am.

Hearing the news, locals and RMG workers took to the streets and blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway around 10:45am, said Rezaul Karim, inspector of Gazipur Industry Police.

They also vandalised several vehicles and set fire to the garbage truck, he added.

The vehicle movement resumed after police brought the situation under control around 11:45am, said Mosharraf Hossain, senior assistant superintendent of police of Gazipur Industrial Police-2.

Fearing vandalism, most of the garment factories in the area were shut in the morning, said Ziaul Kabir Khokon, district president of Garment Workers Trade Union.

As the situation returned to normal, workers have returned to work in the evening.

Contacted around 2:00pm, Senior ASP Mosharraf Hossain told The Daily Star that most of the garment factories in Targach area declared a temporary closure in the morning.  Workers have started returning to their workplaces, he added.

Asma, an employee at Rupa Knitwear, said most of the workers returned to the factory since noon.

Jhuma Akhter, an operator of Hamim Fashion Ltd, said, "There have been no problems since noon.  Most of us resumed work after lunch."

Meanwhile, people suffered immensely due to the agitation and road block.

This correspondent saw people on the road waiting for hours to get a transport.

"I was on my way to Dhaka for donating blood to a patient. Now, I am waiting here for a vehicle," said Shakil Ahmed.

Sixty-year-old Ain Uddin Islam said, "I am waiting since morning for my daughter-in-law and grandsons who are coming from Madaripur. In the morning, they said they reached Abdullahpur. I don't understand why they are not coming yet. I heard there was an accident on the road. God knows in what situation they are in."