Worker killed in Uttara EPZ

A worker was killed and hundreds of employees were wounded during a clash between the staff members of a factory and law and order forces at Uttara Export Processing Zone in Nilphamari on Tuesday.

The violent clash broke out yesterday morning when workers belonging to Evergreen Factory started demonstrating over the closure of their workplace. The worker who got killed was identified as Habibur Rahman who was employed at a firm called Eku International which is a knitting company. Five workers sustained serious injuries who were admitted in Nilphamari General Hospital on Tuesday.

Habibur Rahman was rushed to Nilphamari General Hospital but duty doctors declared him dead. As Habibur Rahman's death news spread out, it added fuel to the fury of the angry workers who got locked in a deadly clash with police personnel.

Vehicles' movement on the Nilphamari-Syedpur highway stopped for several hours as a result of the clash. Local administrative officials and senior cops were having a meeting with the factory owners while this report was being written.

Nilphamari BGB Commanding Officer Lt. Colonel SM Badruddoza said "We have brought the situation under control. There are no chances for mob violence over here. All EPZ factories have been shut down for the time being".

Agitating workers have told journalists that employees of a few factories were expressing anger about certain irregularities for last few days. The owners shut down the factories on Monday all on a sudden which ignited wrath among the workers who have complained about mismanagement and disorder in salary payment which is reportedly going on for a long time.

The outraged workers have blamed police force for firing gunshots at a peaceful protest program yesterday which killed one worker and caused severe injuries to many more employees of the factories which have been closed down.