Savar-Ashulia Garment Protests: Police Allege Outside Interference, Tighten Security
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Police have alleged that domestic and foreign interests may be attempting to exploit ongoing garment workers’ protests in Savar and Ashulia to destabilize the country’s industrial sector, while authorities intensify security measures and investigate suspected instigators.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for the Dhaka Range Md. Mostafizur Rahman and Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Shamima Parveen made the remarks on Monday after inspecting the industrial areas. They spoke to reporters in front of Al Muslim Group near the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Ulail.
Mostafizur said police were investigating individuals suspected of provoking unrest despite the government’s decision to form a new wage board.
He warned that those found responsible for inciting violence or disrupting public order would face legal action, adding that investigators were continuing to collect intelligence on suspected organizers.
Police are also examining the political affiliations and possible involvement of those arrested in connection with the unrest, the DIG said. He added that action would be taken against anyone found involved in violence, regardless of political identity.
Police Investigate Helmet-Wearing Suspects
Police are working to identify individuals who allegedly participated in the protests with their faces concealed by helmets, masks or pieces of cloth, Shamima said.
Investigators are reviewing closed-circuit television footage, videos recorded by journalists and intelligence reports to identify those suspected of vandalism and violence. Several people have already been arrested, she said, without providing a specific number.
The superintendent alleged that outsiders had infiltrated the workers’ demonstrations and carried out destructive activities. She argued that the individuals responsible for vandalism should not automatically be considered genuine garment workers.
However, police did not publicly disclose detailed evidence to substantiate the alleged infiltration or the broader claims of a conspiracy.
Security Tightened Across Industrial Zones
Police strengthened security across Savar, Ashulia and the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) from Monday morning, Shamima said.
District police are coordinating with industrial police, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and garment factory owners’ organizations to protect industrial establishments and maintain normal operations.
Shamima said no garment factory had come under attack on Monday, attributing the situation to increased police vigilance.
She added that factories currently closed had suspended operations at the discretion of their management, denying that a lack of security had forced them to shut down.
Police have urged factory owners to resume normal operations and workers willing to return to their jobs to do so, she said.
Emphasizing the importance of the garment industry to workers’ livelihoods and the national economy, Shamima urged employees not to be influenced by individuals seeking to disrupt the sector.
“The responsibility for ensuring their security rests with us,” she said, calling on workers to return to work without yielding to provocation.
Total Arrest Figure Yet to Be Confirmed
Police could not immediately provide a consolidated figure for arrests linked to the protests.
Shamima said multiple law enforcement units, including Dhaka District Police, industrial police and police stations in Savar and Ashulia, were conducting separate operations.
Authorities were collecting information from the different units to establish the total number of arrests, she said.
Police Claim Larger Disruption Plan Was Foiled
Shamima alleged that individuals seeking to destabilize the industrial belt had planned more extensive disruptions. According to her, advance intelligence and subsequent operations, including arrests, helped prevent the alleged plan from being carried out.
She said garment factories remained operational in several parts of Savar, Ashulia, the EPZ and Hemayetpur, adding that advance security measures had helped prevent damage similar to incidents reported during previous periods of industrial unrest.
The superintendent also alleged that some domestic and foreign interests might be seeking to damage Bangladesh’s economy and undermine public order. She said police had information related to the suspected activities but did not disclose specific details.
Police Promise Tough Action Against Violence
Addressing reports of police personnel being injured during clashes linked to the protests, Mostafizur said authorities would maintain a zero-tolerance approach toward violence and deliberate disorder.
He warned that anyone found responsible for instigating unrest or engaging in violent activities would face legal consequences.
Police officials questioned why demonstrations and road blockades had continued following the formation of a new wage board, arguing that the persistence of violence raised concerns about possible outside involvement.
Their statements, however, did not include independently verified evidence establishing a foreign conspiracy or confirming that all incidents of violence were organized by outsiders.
The protests come amid continuing tensions in the garment manufacturing sector, where industrial stability is closely linked to workers’ employment, factory operations and Bangladesh’s export earnings.
