Police have dispersed outsiders who allegedly attempted to create unrest at several garment factories in Hemayetpur, Savar, with the situation now calm, a senior police official said on Wednesday.
Dhaka Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime, Operations and Traffic-North) Md Jahangir Alam made the remarks while briefing reporters on the workers’ protests in the area.
He said the situation had been peaceful since morning, but outsiders later tried to cause trouble at a few factories. Police dispersed them, although it was not clear whether they were garment workers.
Jahangir said the ongoing wage dispute had centred on the formation of a minimum wage board, which has already been established. Discussions have been held, and a decision is expected soon. He alleged that a third party was trying to exploit the situation for its own interests.
More than 100 police personnel from different units, including Industrial Police, APBn, Dhaka District Police, Detective Branch and Border Guard Bangladesh, have been deployed in the area, he said.
Refuting social media claims that police had opened fire and people had been killed, Jahangir said he was unaware of any use of lethal weapons by police since August 5. He said officers had instructions not to use such weapons and were applying only the minimum force necessary to maintain order.
He added that police intelligence units were monitoring possible attempts to destabilise the area, while the cyber security team was working to identify those spreading rumours to incite workers. Legal action would be taken against those found responsible, he said.