A military-police vehicle was on fire: the Kachuchet incident should not be taken lightly, says Shafiqur Rahman

The issue of arson of military and police vehicles during workers’ protests in the capital Kachukhet could not be ignored, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said today (October 31).

He said on his verified Facebook page that the incident occurred immediately after a military vehicle was set on fire – allegedly by Awami League supporters – on August 10.

“If workers have any legitimate claims, it is the duty of the competent authority to resolve them fairly. However, if the burning of military and police vehicles during protests is intended to achieve the specific goal of destabilizing the country and economy, it cannot be ignored,” he wrote.

An army vehicle and a police van were set on fire during protests by RMG workers in the Kochukhet area of ​​Mirpur in Dhaka.

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

At around 9 a.m., workers at Centex Fashion Limited and other nearby factories gathered outside their workplaces after management at nearby Mousumi Garments closed the factory the previous evening following a series of altercations.

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

Tensions escalated when the police and army arrived in the area. Workers allegedly threw bricks and stones at them. In response, the police used batons, which led to further unrest.

“At one point, they (workers) vandalized and set fire to two police and army vehicles,” said Kazi Golam Mostafa, commander of the Kafrul police station.

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

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

Demands for his resignation came after a relative of the line’s boss allegedly beat up a factory operator, angering workers.

Yesterday there was a meeting of law enforcement, military and workers.

There was an argument during the meeting.

Then the factory was closed after the implementation of Article 13/A of the labor law – no work, no pay.

Today, workers took to the streets again, demanding punishment for law enforcement officers who got into a fight with workers.

Business Standard contacted the creative designers but no representative could be reached for comment.