Army police vehicle on fire: We should not take Kachukhet incident lightly, says Shafiqur Rahman

If the workers have legitimate claims, it is the duty of the relevant authority to resolve them on a fair basis, he said.

TBS report

October 31, 2024, 6:10 PM

Last modified: October 31, 2024, 6:13 PM

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman. Photo: collected

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Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman. Photo: collected

There was no room to take lightly the issue of torching of army and police vehicles during workers’ protests in the capital Kachukhet, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said today (October 31).

On his verified Facebook page, he said the incident closely followed the incident in which an army vehicle was set on fire – allegedly by Awami League supporters – on August 10.

“If the workers have legitimate claims, it is the duty of the relevant authority to resolve them on the basis of fairness. But if the burning of military and police vehicles during protests is aimed at achieving a specific goal: destabilizing the country and the economy, there is no way to take it lightly,” he wrote.

An army vehicle and a police van were torched during protests by RMG workers in Kochukhet area of ​​Mirpur, Dhaka.

Two workers – aged 15 and 17 – were also shot by police during clashes between law enforcement officers, the military and protesters.

At around 9am, workers from Centex Fashion Limited and other nearby factories gathered outside their workplaces after the management of nearby Mousumi Garments closed the factory the night before following a series of altercations.

The closure led to a larger gathering of workers on the streets.

Tensions escalated when police and army personnel arrived in the area. Workers allegedly threw rocks and bricks at them. In response, police resorted to baton attacks, sparking further unrest.

“At one point, they (the workers) destroyed and set fire to two police and army vehicles,” said Kazi Golam Mostafa, officer-in-charge of Kafrul police station.

“In response, police and army personnel took action to disperse them,” the OC added.

Speaking to The Business Standard, Centex director Jashimuddin, whose two employees were shot, said Creative Designers employees had demanded the dismissal of a line manager.

The dismissal demands came after a relative of the line manager allegedly beat up a factory operator, angering workers.

A meeting took place yesterday between law enforcement officials, the military and workers.

An altercation occurred during the meeting.

The factory was subsequently closed after Section 13/A of the Labor Code – no work, no pay – was implemented.

Today, workers took to the streets again, demanding punishment for law enforcement officers who had clashed with workers.

The Business Standard contacted Creative Designers but no representative was available for comment.