33 supporters of AL, affiliates arrested over alleged sabotage amid RMG protests

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested 33 members of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations on suspicion of involvement in sabotage over the past 24 hours.

Police alleged that they had posed as garment workers amid ongoing labour unrest.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Niaz Mehedi of the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division disclosed the information this morning (3 November).

Garment workers have staged protests in Mirpur, Gazipur and Ashulia over the past few days, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000 and other benefits.

The protests have led to clashes between workers and police, as well as chases and counter-chases. Protesters also set fire to vehicles and other objects on highways.

Yesterday (2 November), police filed five cases over attacks on police, vandalism of a traffic police box, crude bomb explosions and vehicle arson during the protests in Mirpur.

Deputy Commissioner of DMP’s Mirpur Division Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar told The Business Standard that police had arrested 60 people over the past two days in connection with the cases.

He said police were preparing to file more cases.

According to police sources, police filed three cases with Pallabi Police Station, one with Mirpur Model Police Station, and another with Rupnagar Police Station over the violence.

The cases name more than 11,000 unidentified people as accused.

Police claimed that Awami League activists and members of its affiliated organisations were among the protesters. They allegedly detonated crude bombs and used petrol to set fire to police vehicles.

Police accused them of exploiting the workers’ movement to create instability.

Investigators also seized fragments of exploded crude bombs and two plastic bottles containing petrol from the scene.

DC Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar said investigators had initially identified some of those arrested as activists of the banned organisation.

Police are still verifying the identities of the others.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed warned yesterday that the government would take strict action against attempts to create unrest in the country under the guise of labour protests in the garment sector.

The home minister made the remarks after meeting leaders of the country’s two major garment trade bodies. He claimed that the protests were not being driven by genuine workers.

“Elements backed by the fallen autocracy are using innocent workers to create instability. Many are seeking to implement a different agenda in the name of labour movements and destabilise the country at the behest of forces across the border. The government will firmly suppress any such conspiracy,” he said.