Workers' Agitation in Mirpur: 10,500 accused in four cases

Four cases have been filed over two consecutive days of workers' agitation, clashes, arson, and attacks on police in Mirpur, Dhaka, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000. In these cases some10,500 unidentified individuals have been named as accused.

Police have arrested 22 people so far. Among them, 11 are claimed by the Detective Police (DB) to be leaders and activists of the banned Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League.

Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of Mirpur Model and Pallabi police stations provided this information at noon on Monday. They said that law enforcement operations will continue to curb violence surrounding the workers' movement.

OC Md. Hafizur Rahman of Mirpur Model Police Station said a case has been filed over vandalism of a traffic box and attacks on police in Mirpur. Three thousand unidentified individuals have been named as accused in the case. So far, six people have been arrested.

He further said that several more people were arrested today, and their verification is ongoing. Arrest operations are continuing based on CCTV footage review.

Meanwhile, OC Jalal Uddin of Pallabi Police Station said three cases have been lodged at Pallabi Police Station on charges of setting fire to a police vehicle, attacking police, obstructing government work, and vandalizing a traffic box. The complainants in these cases are police.

He said that in each case, 2,000 to 2,500 unidentified individuals have been named as accused. Sixteen people have been arrested so far across the three cases.

Plot to Create Unrest Under Cover of Workers' Movement: DB

Detective Police (DB) says that local leaders and activists of the banned Awami League planned to create violence in Mirpur by exploiting the workers' movement for their legitimate demands. A section of them was organized through an online group. They also had plans for large-scale sabotage under the cover of the movement.

Among those detained in Mirpur, 11 are leaders and activists of the banned Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League. They are not primarily workers of any garment factories. DB claims that they had gathered in Mirpur from various districts with the aim of carrying out sabotage under the cover of the workers' movement.

According to DB, attempts are being made to divert the general workers' movement into a different direction, create panic among the public, and destabilize the situation in the country.

Attempt to Return to Streets Again, Police Disperse by Chasing

Meanwhile, around 11:45 am on Monday, workers attempted to come onto the road through a alley in the Senpara Parbata area of Mirpur-10. It is when police chased them to disperse. Several tear gas shells were also fired.Later, workers also attempted to come onto the road near the Proshika intersection beside Mirpur-2 Stadium. Police drive them away from there as well.Eyewitnesses said workers were coming in scattered groups from the Rupnagar area toward the Proshika intersection beside Mirpur-2 Stadium. When they attempted to come onto the road, police intercepted them around 11 am. At that time, a tense situation arose between police and workers.On October 31, garment workers began protesting in the capital Dhaka and surrounding industrial areas, demanding a minimum wage of Tk 30,000. These protests spread to Mirpur, Savar-Ashulia, and Kaliakair in Gazipur. Police, BGB, and law enforcement agencies have been deployed to control the situation.