On Day of Gazipur Worker Protests, Home Minister Warns Unrest in the Name of Labour Movement Will Be Crushed Firmly

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has warned that any attempt to destabilise the country under the cover of a labour movement will be resisted with a very firm hand. He gave the warning on Monday (2 November) while briefing reporters after an emergency meeting with garment factory owners' leaders in the Home Ministry conference room at the Secretariat.

The home minister alleged that one side was exploiting labour discontent to serve its own interests and, at signals from across the border, trying to create planned chaos in the country. He said any attempt to create an unstable situation at signals from across the border would be resisted, and he called on those involved in such activities to refrain.

He said unlawful activity in the name of street protests and attempts to create public suffering would not be tolerated in any way, and strict legal action would be taken against anyone who used the labour movement as a cover for sabotage or broke the law.

Salahuddin Ahmed claimed that ordinary garment workers were not involved in the disorder created in industrial areas in recent days; rather, associates of the ousted political force were inciting the violence to serve a different purpose.

He said strict action would also be taken against anyone involved in a conspiracy to create unrest in the garment sector or to implement a political agenda.

The home minister said the garment sector had been warned in advance about possible unrest: a letter was sent from the Home Ministry to the Labour Ministry on the 18th of last month, and advance measures were also communicated in view of the possible situation.

Earlier on Monday morning, garment owners' leaders met the home minister at the Secretariat to discuss the garment sector's current situation, the causes of the crisis and what should be done to resolve it. He made the remarks in answer to reporters' questions after that meeting.

Meanwhile, garment workers again protested in Gazipur that day, blocking a highway to demand a minimum monthly wage and allowances of 30,000 taka. At around 8:30am, workers from various garment factories in the Palli Bidyut and Mouchak areas of Kaliakair upazila took position on the highway and began protesting.

At one stage the workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, and various vehicles and shops were vandalised during the protest, according to the report.

In Ashulia of Savar, meanwhile, chases and clashes took place between workers and police. Police fired several rounds of tear gas to bring the situation under control, and no casualties were immediately reported.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations and Intelligence) of Industrial Police-1, Shoaib Ahmed, said police were working to bring the situation under control.

The home minister also expressed anger over the 'December' issue discussed in various circles of the ousted Awami League. He said December is the month of the nation's great victory and will carry various glorious state programmes; any fugitive and convicted accused who wants to return should do so now rather than wait until December, and on return they will face trial and legal process under the existing law.

He further noted that the governments of the relevant countries have been formally informed through the Foreign Ministry under diplomatic rules to bring back accused persons hiding abroad. In his view, a quarter is deliberately spreading confusion by invoking December only to keep up the morale of its frustrated and fugitive leaders and activists.