Police have arrested 88 people till now in 22 different cases filed over vandalism and arson incidents by miscreants amid the ongoing readymade garment workers’ movement for salary increments.
Industrial police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Md Jakir Hossain Khan said: “We have been informed that the agitated workers have carried out destructive activities in 123 factories. We have arrested 88 people in this regard till Saturday in 22 cases in different police stations.”
DIG Md Jakir Hossain Khan said these things during his visit to the vandalized Tusuka factory in the Konabari area of Gazipur on Saturday.
The police official said: “The workers' movement is more robust in the Konabari area of Gazipur. There is some movement in Ashulia and no movement in the Chittagong area. We suspect that a group with a vested interest is supporting the workers to carry out the movement in Konabari. We are working to identify that group”.
He added: “There is no reason for the general workers to panic. We will arrest those who have been involved in the vandalizing of the factories and supported the movement with outsiders. Altogether, 17 factories are closed in Gazipur and Konabari. We are talking to the owners to keep the factory running. Soon, they will return to production.”
Gazipur Industrial Zone Police-2 Superintendent of Police (SP) Sarwar Alam along with senior officers of the Industrial Police were present during the inspection of the factory.
Earlier, the government announced a wage of Tk12,500 on November 7 amid the ongoing movement of garment factory workers demanding a minimum wage of Tk23,000.
The workers rejected the new wage and continued to protest in the industrial areas of Gazipur and Savar. Cars and factories were vandalized during the protests.
In this situation, several factories also announced an immediate holiday to avoid vandalism and for the safety of people.
