Police identifying those using burqas and helmets to create unrest in Ashulia-Savar, says SP Shamima Parvin

People involved in creating disorder in the garment industry in Dhaka's Ashulia and Savar by using workers' identities, and in attempts to destabilise the country, are being arrested, Dhaka District Superintendent of Police (SP) Shamima Parvin has said.

She said those using burqas and helmets to try to disturb a peaceful environment are being identified. Police have sufficient information on the matter and intelligence surveillance is continuing, she said.

SP Shamima Parvin made the remarks at a briefing with journalists on the overall situation in the Ashulia industrial area on Tuesday (3 November) noon. Dhaka Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Mustafizur Rahman was present at the time.

Shamima Parvin said: 'For the past two days, various people involved in destroying the industry and destabilising the country in the name of workers, centring on the garment industry, have been arrested.'

On burqa-wearing individuals and the 'helmet force', she said: 'You were talking about burqa-wearing people and the helmet force. You know we have been familiar with the helmet force for the past 17 years. In the same way, we are also familiar with those carrying out mischief using burqas or hijabs. In this case, our police have enough information and intelligence surveillance is ongoing. We are identifying who, wearing burqas or helmets, is trying to make a peaceful environment unrestful.'

'We have also received information on who is instigating them, who is supplying the money and who is trying to destabilise Bangladesh,' the senior police officer added.

The SP said: 'Garment workers basically had no demands. Any demand has a beginning and a specific process. Demands are raised in a systematic way. But without any process, worker unrest suddenly began two days ago.'

She also said: 'The overall situation in Dhaka district is calm. The EPZ is calm. Workers at every garment factory in Ashulia and Savar are working normally and the factories are open. The worker unrest was seen to start suddenly. They are not real workers; rather, they are disorderly people who came from outside using workers' identities. They have been arrested.'

'We will certainly foil this conspiracy through strict enforcement of the law,' Shamima Parvin said.