Four cases have been filed over two consecutive days of protests, vandalism, arson and attacks on police by ready-made garment (RMG) workers in Mirpur, Dhaka, who were demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.
Around 10,500 unidentified individuals have been accused in the cases, while police have so far arrested 22 people in connection with the incidents.
The officers-in-charge (OCs) of Mirpur Model and Pallabi police stations confirmed the information to Jago News on Monday (November 2).
Mirpur Model Police Station OC Md Hafizur Rahman said a case had been filed over the vandalism of a traffic police box and an attack on police in Mirpur. Around 3,000 unidentified individuals were made accused in the case.
Six people have so far been arrested. Several others were also detained on Monday, but their identities are being verified, he said, adding that police were continuing the arrest drive by analysing CCTV footage.
Meanwhile, Pallabi Police Station OC Jalal Uddin said three cases had been filed over setting fire to a police vehicle, attacking law enforcement personnel, obstructing government duties and vandalising a traffic police box.
Police filed all three cases, each accusing between 2,000 and 2,500 unidentified individuals. A total of 16 people have so far been arrested in connection with these cases, he added.
Meanwhile, the Detective Branch (DB) of police alleged that local leaders and activists of the now-banned Awami League had planned to exploit the garment workers' movement to create violence in Mirpur, despite the workers' demands being legitimate.
According to the DB, a section of the alleged instigators had organised themselves through online groups and planned large-scale sabotage under the cover of the labour movement.
The DB further claimed that 11 of those detained in Mirpur were leaders and activists of the Awami League, Juba League and Chhatra League. They were reportedly not regular workers at local garment factories but had travelled to Mirpur from different districts with the intention of carrying out sabotage.
The police intelligence unit alleged that the individuals were attempting to divert the workers' peaceful movement towards other objectives and create public panic and instability across the country.
Sun News/ rabbi
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