Hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers strike after factory collapse

Hundreds of thousands of workers went on strike on Thursday in protest at the deaths of hundreds of workers in a factory collapse the previous day.

Workers downed tools and blockaded major highways in several industrial areas outside the capital Dhaka, forcing factory bosses to declare a day's holiday.

Factories where the owners did not grant the day off were attacked.

The chief of police told press that many of the workers also "wanted to donate blood to their fellow workers", over 1000 of whom were injured in the collapse.

Hundreds of workers laid siege to the headquarters of the main manufacturers' association demanding that those responsible be punished. They smashed windows and destroyed vehicles until being run off by police.

After cracks in the building were discovered, the plant’s 3000 workers were evacuated on Tuesday, however managers ordered them back to work.

The factory collapse is the latest of many tragedies in Bangladesh's garment export sector: over 100 workers were killed in a fire when they were locked in to their factory in November last year.