FE Report

Police arrested three people for their alleged involvement in the recent four-day violence in the RMG sector at Ashulia and Savar industrial belt.

The arrested are Rafiqul, Moksed and Helal.

Police said they arrested three people in separate drives on Tuesday midnight in connection with the latest workers unrest.

The police produced the trio before a Dhaka court with a remand prayer for interrogation. But police could not confirm details about the remand till filing of this report at about 8:30pm.

"The arrested were active members of a criminal gang," Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Ashulia police station Monwar Hossain told the FE.

Earlier, seven cases were filed with the police station in this connection.

Meanwhile, normalcy has returned to Ashulia and Savar industrial belt as garments factories Wednesday resumed production after witnessing four days of violence and vandalism by the unruly workers, officials said.

Witnesses said the apparel workers joined their workplaces amid tight security and were seen working peacefully.

An official of Bangladesh Garments Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said that some 300 garments factories in the areas have started operation in full swing. "We didn't receive any report of violence today (Wednesday)," the official added.

Some 160 factories were extensively damaged and three others were set on fire in the last four days of unrest at Jamgora, Ashulia, Zirabo and Narasinghapur areas leaving hundreds of people, including workers, pedestrians, policemen and journalists injured.

An operator of S Suhi Industrial Park, Al Amin, was shot and killed on June 27, the first day of violence, in firing by the Ansar personnel and another unidentified worker was killed on the following day.

The agitators also set fire to a sweater factory of Ha-Mim group on June 29 causing an estimated loss of Tk 0.50 billion, the group's managing director AK Azad said.

BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy told the FE that the total loss due to the unrest would be around Tk 3.50 billion. "The workers and apparel manufactures will have to work hard to overcome the crisis," he added.

Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) in separate statements have expressed concern over the recent violence and vandalism in the RMG sector.

BTMA said it is not only a plot to destroy RMG sector but also the country's textile sector.

It said an unscrupulous group is hatching conspiracy to ruin the industry as they tried in 2006. The association held some terrorist groups responsible for creating the chaotic situation in the factories.

"We urge the government to immediately identify the people involved in the violence in order to root out such elements from the sector," it added.

While criticising the role of the law enforcers during the violence, the statement demanded exemplary punishment of those responsible for the unrest.

The JBCCI was also worried that the unrest might prompt the foreign investors to redirect their investment to other countries and urged the government to help the factory owners and the workers resolve the crisis, the JBCCI release added.

While, Garments Sramik Trade Union Kendra at a press conference alleged that some jhut (rag) traders incited the peaceful demonstrators and provoked them into vandalism and arson attacks.

They also placed various demands, including immediate arrest of local terror Summon and his associates and exemplary punishment of those involved in the killing and wounding of workers.