Outsiders and miscreants, rather than genuine garment workers, were involved in violence and vandalism in the name of movement in Savar and Ashulia to destabilise the country, Dhaka Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police Mostafizur Rahman said on Monday.
“Some miscreants have infiltrated the workers’ movement and are creating disorder to destabilise the country. We are collecting information about them, and those involved will be brought to justice. They will not be spared,” he said.
The DIG made the remarks while talking to journalists after visiting several factories in Savar in the afternoon.
He urged all to remain alert, saying no genuine worker would vandalise their own workplace.
Mostafizur said the overall situation in Savar was relatively calm on Monday compared to the previous two days, although sporadic incidents of unrest were reported.
Police remained vigilant and brought situations under control promptly, he said, adding that additional police personnel had been deployed at different points in Savar and Ashulia to maintain law and order.
"Industrial establishments are public assets, and they will be protected at any cost," the DIG added.
More than 100 garment factories in Savar and Ashulia declared a general holiday on Monday amid fresh unrest over workers' demand for a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.
Protests erupted in Ashulia in the morning when workers of New Age factory in Narsinghapur came out of their workplace after suspending work and staged demonstrations on the road.
The protests later spread to workers of nearby factories, prompting the authorities of several establishments to declare a general holiday.
Police fired tear gas shells in front of the Ha-Meem Group factory to disperse the protesters, triggering clashes when chases and counter-chases took place between the two sides.
Around 11:15am, miscreants set fire to a covered van belonging to Ha-Meem Group while it was refuelling at Nadi Filling Station.
In another incident, several garment factories in Hemayetpur, Tetuljhora, Fulbaria and Ullail areas of Savar municipality declared holidays amid the unrest.
Most workers returned home following the announcements. However, some workers continued demonstrations on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway. They also visited different factories and brought workers out of their workplaces.
Additional police and members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) were deployed to maintain law and order, said Superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1 Mominul Islam Bhuiyan.
At least 15 people, including workers and police personnel, were injured in several rounds of clashes between workers and police in Narsinghhpur on Monday afternoon.
The clashes began around 1pm in front of the Ha-Meem Group factory when workers demanding implementation of the minimum wage were involved in a confrontation with law enforcers.
The SP said at least 10 police personnel, including Assistant Superintendent of Police Shoaeb Ahmed, were injured in the brick-throwing.
Two people were detained over allegations of attacking police, he added.
Vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Ashulia-EPZ regional highway resumed after the situation returned to normal in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, senior police and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) officials visited AKH Garment, a 100 percent export-oriented factory in the Hemayetpur bus stand area, which was damaged in an attack on Sunday.