People Creating Unrest in Ashulia-Savar Garment Belt Under Worker Identity Are Being Arrested, Says Dhaka SP Shamima Parveen

Dhaka Superintendent of Police (SP) Shamima Parveen has said that people involved in creating unrest in the ready-made garment industry in Ashulia and Savar under a worker identity, and in trying to destabilise the country, are being arrested.

She said those who are trying to disturb a peaceful environment wearing burqas and helmets are being identified. Police have sufficient information on this, she said, and intelligence surveillance is also continuing.

SP Shamima Parveen made the remarks at a press briefing on Tuesday (3 November) afternoon on the overall situation in the Ashulia industrial area.

She said that for the past two days, people involved in using a worker identity to destroy the ready-made garment industry and destabilise the country have been being arrested.

Shamima Parveen said, 'You know that for the past 17 years we have been familiar with the helmet force. Similarly, we are also aware of those who are carrying out malicious activities using burqas or hijabs. Police have sufficient information on this and intelligence surveillance is continuing.'

The SP said garment workers originally had no demands. Any demand has a beginning and a specific process, and demands are raised systematically. But worker unrest suddenly began two days ago without any such process.

She said, 'The overall situation in Dhaka district is calm. The situation in the EPZ is also calm. Every factory in Ashulia and Savar is open and workers are working normally. Worker unrest was suddenly seen to start. But these are not real workers. Some people who came from outside, using a worker identity, tried to create unrest. They have been arrested.'

The SP also said much information has been received about the burqa and helmet forces. Police also have information on who is instigating them, who is supplying the money, and who is trying to destabilise Bangladesh.

She said this conspiracy will be foiled through strict enforcement of the law.