Four cases have been filed following two consecutive days of protests, arson, clashes, and attacks on police by garment workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 BDT in the capital’s Mirpur. Around 10,500 unidentified individuals have been named as accused in these cases. Police have arrested 22 people so far.
The Officers-in-Charge (OC) of Mirpur Model Police Station and Pallabi Police Station disclosed this information on Monday afternoon.
Md. Hafizur Rahman, OC of Mirpur Model Police Station, stated that a case was registered at his station over vandalizing a traffic box and attacking the police. The case names 3,000 unidentified individuals as accused. Six people have been arrested so far, including several detained today whose details are currently being verified. Drive to arrest suspects based on CCTV footage is ongoing.
Regarding the cases at Pallabi Police Station, OC Jalal Uddin stated that three cases have been filed by the police as plaintiffs on charges of setting a police vehicle on fire, attacking police personnel, obstructing government duty, and vandalizing a traffic box. Each case accuses between 2,000 and 2,500 unidentified individuals. A total of 16 people have been arrested so far across these three cases.
The Detective Branch (DB) of Police noted that local leaders and activists of the banned political party Awami League planned to instigate violence in Mirpur by exploiting the workers’ demand. A segment of them had organized via online groups with plans for major sabotage under the guise 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 local garment factory workers; rather, they gathered in Mirpur from various districts to commit sabotage under the pretense of the workers’ movement. The DB stated that attempts were being made to divert the general workers’ movement to create panic among the public and destabilize the country.
Meanwhile, around 10:45 AM on Monday, workers attempted to take to the streets through an alley in the Senpara Parbata area of Mirpur-10. Police chased them away to disperse the crowd and fired several rounds of tear gas shells. Later, workers also attempted to assemble on the road near the Proshika intersection adjacent to the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur-2, but police removed them from the location as well.
Eyewitnesses reported that scattered groups of workers began advancing from the Rupnagar area toward the Proshika intersection via the stadium in Mirpur-2. As they tried to get onto the main road around 11:00 AM, police intercepted them, triggering a tense situation between both sides.
Following two days of protests and clashes by garment workers, police and other law enforcement agencies maintained a vigilant presence starting Monday morning.
Police personnel were deployed around the Mirpur-10 roundabout and nearby areas since morning. Riot control vehicles, water cannons, and other police vehicles were kept on standby at the roundabout.
Traffic movement on the roads in and around Mirpur-10 remained normal with no reported disruptions, allowing pedestrians and the general public to move freely. The overall situation in the area appeared normal until 10:30 AM.
On Monday morning, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad held a meeting at the Secretariat with representatives of factory owners regarding the recent situation in the apparel sector. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he stated that certain factory owners and individuals operating under the banner of worker organizations were involved in creating instability in the garment sector. Video footage, audio clips, and other evidence of their actions have been collected, and several individuals were brought under the law yesterday. Strict action will be taken against anyone trying to deteriorate law and order under the guise of a workers’ movement.
He added that a group is attempting to destabilize the country through road blockades, arson, and violence in the name of workers’ protests. They have been identified, and those acting against workers’ interests to conspire against national stability will be dealt with firmly.
When asked about the involvement of non-workers in the movement, the Home Minister remarked that no genuine worker or trade union leader would want to destroy their own livelihood. The government believes that real workers are not involved in the recent unrest. However, he urged any worker organization leaders involved in such activities to step back.
Demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 BDT, ready-made garment (RMG) workers blocked the road at the Mirpur-10 intersection on Sunday. Workers from several garment factories took to the streets around 8:00 AM, disrupting traffic in surrounding areas.
Clashes broke out between police and workers around 11:15 AM. According to eyewitnesses, police used baton charges, water cannons, sound grenades, and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, while workers retaliated by throwing stones and bricks at the police. The chase and counter-chase continued until 11:45 AM.
At one point around noon, a police vehicle was set on fire beneath the Mirpur-11 metro station. Due to the violence, operations at Mirpur-10, Mirpur-11, and Pallabi metro stations were suspended from 11:38 AM to 1:58 PM.
RMG workers had also blocked roads in Mirpur on Saturday over the same demand, suspending vehicular movement in Mirpur-10, 11, 12, and adjacent areas from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
