Police see instigation by banned organization in workers' movement
Workers' protest in Gazipur demanding a pay raise worth Tk 30,000, on Sunday. Agamir Somoy.
Police have claimed that workers of a banned organization were involved in the ongoing garment workers' movement. In particular, the Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner said information and video footage have been obtained showing leaders of the banned Chhatra League from various universities being involved in the movement. He also said legal action will be taken against those involved.
On the third day of labour unrest (Sunday) workers kept on demanding a minimum wage of Tk 30,000. On this day, protests spread in the Konabari, Chandina Chourasta, and Bhogra areas of Gazipur Metropolitan City. Thousands of workers came onto the streets and blockaded the highway. Incidents of attacks, vandalism, and arson also occurred at several factories. There were chase-and-counter-chase and clashes between workers and police. Five platoons of BGB were deployed to control the situation.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md. Israil Haldar told Agamir Somoy, "There is evidence that workers of a party whose activities are banned were involved in the workers' movement. In particular, information has been found that leaders of the banned Chhatra League from various universities were involved in this movement. There is also video footage related to this. Legal action will be taken against those involved."
Meanwhile, labor leaders have alleged that attempts are being made to divert the movement in a different direction. Akhtaruzzaman Babul, chief coordinator of the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Workers' Organization, said, "There is political instigation behind bringing workers onto the streets. A month ago, the government was informed from Gazipur that there may be an attempt to create an unstable situation in the country centering on December by using garment workers."
He further said, "On Saturday, a former leader of Chhatra League was seen inciting and leading workers in the Mouchak area. A conspiratorial circle is trying to create lawlessness in the country by capitalizing on the workers' movement."
Several workers also alleged instigation by outsiders and attempts to create disorder during the movement. Speaking to Agamir Samay on condition of anonymity, a worker said he saw a number of unfamiliar and over-enthusiastic people during the movement. These individuals were repeatedly inciting the workers. However, it was difficult to identify them in the crowd of thousands of workers.
From Sunday morning, workers in the Konabari area began protesting without joining work. At one point, they set fire to a police box beside the Dhaka-Tangail highway. Incidents of vehicle vandalism and brickbatting targeting shops also occurred in various places. This spread panic in the area. Due to the protests, traffic jams were created on the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways. Around 12:30 pm, when the workers left the roads, vehicular movement returned to normal.
Earlier, on the first two days of the movement, garment workers protested in the Kaliakair, Safipur, and Mouchak areas. On Sunday, as the movement spread to various areas of the metropolitan city, several factories announced holidays due to fears of vandalism.Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Amjad Hossain said, "Workers began protesting from the morning demanding a wage increase. Around noon, when they left the highway, the situation returned to normal. Police performed their duties with patience."Meanwhile, amid the workers' movement, the government has issued a notification appointing new members to the minimum wage board. Along with appointing representatives of the owners' and workers' sides, separate representatives have been nominated to determine the minimum wage for the ready-made garment industry.Mamtaz Uddin, president of the Gazipur Ekata Garments Federation, said, "The wage board will work on the workers' demands. They are working to fulfill the workers' demands. However, vandalism and disorder are in no way acceptable."Md. Masudur Rahman Rubel, executive magistrate of the Gazipur District Administration, said BGB has been deployed to avoid unpleasant incidents in the factory areas. Alongside, members of other law enforcement agencies are also performing their duties.
