PM's Political Assistant Accuses Jamaat Chief of Inciting Arson Around Garment Workers' Protests

Rashed Khan, political assistant to the prime minister, has accused Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman of inciting the disorder and arson surrounding the garment workers' movement. He made the allegation on Monday (2 November) at a rally and human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Rashed Khan claimed that Awami League men had entered the workers' movement over legitimate demands and carried out arson and violence, while Jamaat was trying to heat up the streets. He also raised the question of whether the Jamaat chief should be brought under the law as an inciter.

The programme was organised by the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Central Command Council. The rally and human chain were held in protest at the obstruction of the funeral prayers and burial of Bir Muktijoddha Manik Poshari of Pirojpur and the dishonour shown to him.

Rashed Khan said that during Sunday's (1 November) workers' movement in Mirpur, Ashulia and Gazipur, leaders and activists of Jamaat and the National Citizen Party (NCP) had organised ordinary workers and brought them onto the streets. Awami League men, in the guise of workers, had set fire to a police vehicle, a pickup and garment factories, he claimed, adding that several Awami League and Chhatra League members had been arrested over the incidents.

Referring to the Jamaat chief's remarks, he said Jamaat's long march had spoken of smashing and destroying everything belonging to the government, and that Jamaat could not avoid responsibility for the disorder and arson that followed in the name of the workers' movement. He said the Jamaat chief's role in the arson incidents needed to be examined in light of his statements on social media.

On the workers' demands, Rashed Khan said the government was sincere about their legitimate claims. The prime minister had announced a rise in workers' pay and allowances, and preparations were under way to begin the process from December, he said. But he alleged that a quarter was trying to take political advantage of the demands, and he urged everyone to stay alert so that no one could use the movement to create violence.

Garment workers have been protesting for days demanding a minimum wage of 30,000 taka. On Sunday, for a second consecutive day, they blocked roads and demonstrated in Mirpur, Gazipur and Ashulia, clashing repeatedly with police. A police vehicle was set on fire beneath the Mirpur-11 metro rail station, and police boxes were torched at Konabari and Chandra in Gazipur.

Police said 29 people had been arrested in Mirpur and 20 in Gazipur over the incidents. Police claimed the arrestees were leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliates. Around 300 factories in Savar-Ashulia and Gazipur were declared closed for a holiday.

In a separate statement on the workers' movement on Monday, Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman said a conspiracy was under way to destroy the garment industry by capitalising on the wage demand. In his words, conspirators and opportunists appeared to be inciting the situation, and he believed no worker would be involved in such acts. No reaction from Jamaat or the NCP to Rashed Khan's allegation was available.

At the rally, Rashed Khan also said those who had opposed the Liberation War were now in the position of the country's main opposition party, which he called a shame for the nation. Describing the obstruction of Manik Poshari's funeral and burial as a dishonour to the spirit of the Liberation War and to freedom fighters, he said dishonouring one freedom fighter meant dishonouring the entire Liberation War.

Manik Poshari was the plaintiff and a witness in the war crimes case against Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayeedi. His family alleged that Jamaat leaders and activists obstructed the state honours and burial of his body in Pirojpur on 24 October. A guard of honour was later given at the Police Lines, and he was buried in his own village under police guard at around 2am.

Local Jamaat leaders denied the allegation of obstruction. Jamaat's central executive council has, however, formed a two-member committee to investigate the allegation.