Worker killed on way to rally

A readymade garment worker was shot dead in the capital’s Merul on Tuesday when he went to call up workers of another factory for a rally.

Badda Police Station Officer in-Charge Iqbal Hossain said Mohammad Sohagh, 22, was a worker of Riviera Resources Ltd in east Rampura.

Ramna Police Station OC Mashiur Rahman said a garment workers’ group sought leave from several factories to attend a rally in Badda’s Aftabnagar in Dhaka. On being denied the leave, the workers blocked a road in Rampura-Malibagh for about an hour.

Workers of Riviera Resources and Fashion Island were allowed the leave at around 3:00pm. They then went to call up workers of Tuba Group factory in Merul Badda’s Nimtoli.

They clashed with another group of workers, the OC said quoting witnesses.

Sohagh was shot in the head and a pedestrian, Shariful Ilsam, 26, in the arm during the chaos. Both were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

DMCH Police Camp Inspector Mozammel Hoque told bdnews24.com that doctors there advised taking Sohagh to another hospital since DMCH intensive care unit (ICU) was full.

Later, relatives took him to a Dhanmondi hospital, but returned to DMCH after not being able to get him admitted there.

Sohagh succumbed to his wounds at around 10:00am.

Badda OC Iqbal Hossain told bdnews24.com that since police were not around during the clashes, “it was not clear who opened fire.”