After failing to launch any effective anti-government movement, the BNP-Jamaat cliques have hatched a deep rooted conspiracy to destabilize the country’s major foreign currency earner Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sectors.
As part of their anti-state plans, the right wing political alliance have become desperate to exploit the wage increment issues of the ordinary RMG workers mostly in the RMG hubs-- Gazipur and city’s outskirts Savar and Ashulia area for a few days.
They are spending huge amount of money to carry out violent activities by hiring some pro-BNP-Jammat worker leaders to spread confusions about the issue.
However, intelligence agencies have started monitoring closely the whole situation to expose all the real culprits behind the latest unrest in the RMG sector.
Political insiders claimed that BNP-Jamaat high command virtually instructed their armed cadres to join hands in the ongoing
agitation of the RMG workers in and around the capital Dhaka city.
In the guise of RMG workers, they are setting fire on RMG factories, killing workers, attacking law enforcers after spreading rumours of deaths of their fellow workers.
They have also vandalized and torched vehicles to further intensify the violence.
Some RMG factory owners hinted that anti-government elements are attacking RGM factories to make big headlines in the international media to destroy the highly valuable export oriented sector of the country.
Some foreign countries who are competitors of Bangladesh in RGM exports may also have instigated the RMG violence through BNP-Jammat to divert export orders from Bangladesh.
Political observers urged the government to take strong measures against all the trouble makers of the RMG sectors.
According to the local sources, a group of BNP-Jamaat backed agitators on Tuesday set fire on a traffic police box, an electronic showroom, and a private hospital in Gazipur.
At this time, a clash ensued between the workers and police in Chandana, resulting in chase and counter chase.
The incident took place in Chandra and Safipur area of Kaliakair upazila on the Dhaka-Tangail highway on Tuesday afternoon.
According to eyewitnesses and the police, the agitated workers set fire to a traffic police box in Safipur. They also vandalized a Walton Plaza showroom and SafipurTanha Hospital and several local shops.
Shahidul Islam, in-charge of Kaliakoir'sMouchak police outpost, said that the workers set fire to the police box.
From October 23, BNP-Jammat instigated thousands of garment workers to create anarchy at major RMG industrial zones in the name of demanding Tk23,000 as monthly minimum wage, after the RMG owners proposed Tk10,400 at the Minimum Wages Board on October 22.
Currently the RMG workers' minimum wage is Tk8,000.
Though the strike was peaceful, it turned violent from October 29 after BNP-Jamaatcaders joined in the protests, and so far two workers were killed during clashes with law enforcers.
They also vandalized factories and vehicles.
Unruly RMG workers blocked the road in a few places of Dhaka-Mymensingh highway by setting tires on fire and vandalizing vehicles.
Due to security concerns, vehicular movements were seen limited in the area.
Some garment factory owners are seen stationed with sticks in front of various facilities along the highway.
While police are deployed in front of larger factories, local residents have taken it upon themselves to guard smaller establishments with makeshift measures.
Pro BNP-Jammat RMG workers and outsiders took to the streets and ransacked a RMG factory in Mirpur area of the capital Dhaka. As of 1:30pm, the entire of Mirpur 11 was barricaded, the metro station locked and law enforcement personnel were seen turning vehicles and people away.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Tuesday suggested to its member factories to close their factory units under section 13/1 of the Labour act if the ongoing unrest situation deteriorated.