“10 RMG workers hurt as police fire on their demo”, 11 May 2021

Ten garment workers were seriously injured when police shot "rubber bullets" at demonstrators in Tongi, Gazipur yesterday.

"The workers have not been taking a day off for one and a half months… They protested after the management declared that the Eid break would only be for three days," said Joly Talukder, general secretary of Garment Workers Trade Union Centre (GWTUC).

"There was a meeting between the government, labour leaders and manufacturers' associations at the Sram Bhaban where the state minister for labour said the workers will be given their due holidays as long as they don't leave their workstations. However, these two factories announced that the holiday would only be for three days," she said.

… [S]ome … [workers] were peppered with over 50 projectiles. Worker leaders said police shot from up close.

Garment workers' associations severely criticised the police actions.

"Police shot the workers at point-blank range, which resulted in serious injuries. Incidents like these keep happening because the police shoot at workers with absolute impunity whenever they protest," said a statement by the GWTUC.