Mayhem in Malibagh as road crash kills two

The capital's Malibagh neighbourhood turned violent yesterday as garments workers went on a rampage -- vandalising and setting fire to vehicles -- and clashed with police following the death of two girls, including a garment worker in a road accident in the area.

The dead are Jamila Khatun Poly, 19, who worked at MH Fashion, a readymade garment factory, and Meem, 13, a class V student who went to visit the factory with Poly.

Meem died on the spot while Poly was declared dead after she was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police outpost.

Poly was the daughter of late Ezaz Ahmed from Satkhira's Kolaroa upazila and Meem was the daughter of Sonai Mollah from Bogura's Gabtoli upazila.

The accident took place around 2:00pm when a Gazipur-bound bus of “Shupravat Paribahan” hit Meem and Poly near the Abul Hotel in Malibagh Rail crossing area, said Biplob Kumar Sarker, deputy commissioner (Tejgaon Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan  Police.

The two went out to have their lunch, said Sumi, a coworker of Poly.

Following the incident, several hundred agitated workers of nearby garment factories took to the streets around 3:00pm and blocked the Malibagh-Rampura road for around four hours, vandalised around 40 vehicles and set fire to two buses.

The blockade caused immense public suffering.

The clash left over a dozen people injured, including Nazmun Nahar, an additional deputy commissioner of police.

People walk on a street as there is no traffic movement. Photo: Amran Hossain

Two units of firefighters went to the spot and doused the fire, said Rana Mia, an official at the fire service and civil defence headquarters.

The agitators fought a pitched battle with police when the latter tried to disperse them with armoured personnel carrier around 6:00pm.

DC Biplob said police had arrested the bus driver and seized the bus from the spot immediately after the incident.

The bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College morgue for autopsies.

Jorina Begum, mother of Meem, filed a case in this connection last night accusing Md Junayed, the driver of the bus, for reckless driving, said Abdur Rashid, sub-inspector of Hatirjheel Police Station.

A notice was found hanging at the main entrance of MH Fashion saying the factory would remain shut today.