RMG unrest: BNP men urged to take to Savar streets against ‘banned AL plots’

BNP leaders and activists have been urged to take to the streets alongside law enforcement agencies to prevent what senior party leaders described as attempts by the banned Awami League to destabilise the garment industry through ongoing workers’ unrest in Savar.

The call came at a special law-and-order meeting at the Savar Upazila Parishad conference room this afternoon (4 November), chaired by Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam.

Several speakers alleged that the unrest was no longer being driven by genuine labour grievances but was being exploited by Awami League activists and other politically motivated groups to create instability in the industrial belt and undermine the country’s economy.

Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, who has been given special responsibility for maintaining law and order in Savar, alleged that protesters had deliberately shifted their activities to Hemayetpur today, expecting law enforcement agencies to be occupied elsewhere.

“Today, if we analyse the situation, nothing happened in this Hemayetpur area over the past two days. Today, they planned it, thinking everyone would be busy elsewhere, and chose this area,” he said.

Tuku said workers were expected to return to their jobs from Thursday, as they had also announced an end to their movement.

He urged local BNP leaders to take responsibility for their respective wards and neighbourhoods, identify those creating trouble and inform law enforcement agencies.

“Those who engage in such activities must be dealt with firmly,” he said, adding that law enforcement agencies would take the strongest possible action against those he described as collaborators of fascism.

He also alleged that a neighbouring country, alongside the Awami League, was involved in efforts to destabilise the situation and destroy the country’s industries.

BNP leaders call for round-the-clock vigilance

BNP Standing Committee member Aman Ullah Aman also blamed the banned Awami League for the unrest, urging party leaders and activists to remain vigilant and actively monitor industrial areas.

Referring to people who had fled the country and were allegedly working both openly and covertly against the government, Aman called on BNP activists to maintain round-the-clock vigilance.

“From tomorrow, we do not want to see any such incidents,” he said, asking party leaders and activists to work alongside the administration and follow its instructions.

Dhaka-19 MP Dewan Mohammad Salahuddin Babu also urged BNP activists to take to the streets early in the morning, preferably by 8am, to help prevent further unrest.

Police warn against sheltering banned AL activists

Dhaka Superintendent of Police Shamima Parveen alleged that banned Awami League members were staying in Savar and Ashulia with the backing of some political leaders, journalists, labour leaders and members of civil society.

Claiming that police had information about those providing them shelter, she warned that no one would be spared for supporting people involved in criminal activities, regardless of their political or professional identities.

She said strict legal action would be taken against those concerned.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiya, superintendent of Industrial Police-1, said at least 200 factories in the industrial zone had been forced to announce holidays amid the prevailing unrest.

The meeting was attended by Tuku, Aman, Salahuddin Babu, Dhaka Range Deputy Inspector General Mostafizur Rahman, SP Shamima Parveen, District Council Administrator and District Jubo Dal President Yasin Ferdous Murad, Savar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Saiful Islam, local BNP leaders and labour representatives.