Gazipur vandals are 'political infiltrators', labour leaders urge workers to return to work from Wednesday

Labour leaders have described as 'political infiltrators' those who joined the garment workers' peaceful movement for a wage increase in Gazipur and attacked police, set vehicles on fire and vandalised factories. The 'Shramik Mukti Sangram Parishad' Gazipur, formed of 35 labour organisations, demanded legal action against the accused and called on workers to return to work.

The call was made at a press conference at the Gazipur Press Club on Tuesday (3 November), held in the context of the workers' movement that has been running for the past four days. The press conference was organised to discuss ways to resolve the ongoing labour unrest and to protect peace and order for industry and workers.

The organisers also welcomed the government's formation of a wage board, describing it as a victory. They urged workers to keep faith in the wage board and requested them to return to work from Wednesday.

In a written statement, the organisation's president, Tamiz Uddin Tanu, said the factories' production system must be kept running to protect the country's economy and the workers' livelihoods.

Calling on all workers to stay alert and aware to prevent any conspiratorial circle or outsiders from infiltrating to create instability in the garment sector, Tanu also said workers should return to their workplaces and keep normal production activities going.

Md Shafiul Alam, assistant general secretary of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation and joint convener of the Shramik Mukti Sangram Parishad, urged workers to trust the wage board formed by the government, saying a fair solution is possible through discussion. He too welcomed the government for forming a wage board for the garment sector.

Shafiul Alam strongly urged the government to ensure an objective and fair wage, taking the workers' cost of living into consideration. He also demanded that no arrests, cases or repression be carried out against workers, and that humane treatment of them be ensured.

Also present at the press conference were Md Abdul Aziz, central general secretary of the Garment Industry Workers Alliance; Md Shafiul Alam, joint convener of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation; Mizanur Rahman Sikder, Gazipur district president of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Unity Council; Md Khokon Mia, general secretary of the Gazipur city committee of the Bangladesh Garments Textile Workers Federation; Md Abul Hossain Jewel, Gazipur district president of the Bangla Garments Workers Federation; Rokeya Parvin, women's affairs secretary of the central committee of the National Artisan and Industrial Workers Federation; Md Azizul Islam, Gazipur district vice-president of the Garments Workers Front; Mohammad Amjad Hossain, central committee vice-president of the Bangladesh Garments Workers Federation; Md Monirul Islam, vice-president of the Bangladesh Open Garment Workers Union Federation; and Md Anwar Hossain, Gazipur district joint general secretary of the National Garments Workers Federation.

Meanwhile, when attempts were made on Tuesday to create sabotage at several places in Gazipur city including Toghra Bypass Mor and Naojor, those attempting it were dispersed in the face of resistance from police and BNP leaders and activists.

Gazipur-2 MP M. Manjurul Karim Roni, Gazipur-1 MP Mojibur Rahman and Gazipur City Corporation administrator Shawkat Hossain Sarker were also on the streets with large numbers of leaders and activists, to stop harassment of ordinary passengers and to maintain peace. They told journalists that the workers' demands are logical, and that the government is working sincerely on their demands.