Hundreds of thousands of garment workers walked out of their factories in Bangladesh on Thursday, police said, to protest the deaths of 204 people in the building collapse, the latest tragedy to hit the sector.

Grief turned to anger as the workers, some carrying sticks, blockaded key highways in at least three industrial areas just outside the capital, Dhaka, forcing factory owners to declare a day's holiday.

"There were hundreds of thousands of them," said Abdul Baten, police chief of Gazipur district, where hundreds of large garment factories are based. "They occupied roads for a while and then dispersed."

Police inspector Kamrul Islam said the workers had attacked several factories whose bosses had refused to give employees the day off.

"They were protesting the deaths of the workers in Savar," he said.

"Many wanted to donate blood to their fellow workers," Kamrul added.

Some 1,500 workers marched to the headquarters of the main manufacturers' association, demanding the owners of the collapsed factories be punished.

AFP

(China Daily 04/26/2013 page11)