Salahuddin accuses “fascists” of fueling RMG workers unrest
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday accused “fascist supporters” of fueling RMG workers unrest alleging they infiltrated into their movement saying genuine workers or trade union leaders were not involved in ongoing violent acts.
Emerging from a meeting with labour leaders at his ministry’s conference room, he told reporters that “supporters of the ousted fascist forces” and opportunistic groups infiltrated into ongoing unrest in the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector and inciting violence to weaken industrial stability
"The elements who are deliberately creating disorder on highways and disrupting industrial activities cannot be friends of workers," Ahmed said and warned that individuals involved in such activities would be identified and brought to justice.
He said discussions with labour leaders focused on addressing the recent industrial unrest, considering workers' legitimate demands and restoring normalcy in garment factories.
The minister said CCTV footage analysis and video recordings in the past several days found that masked individuals had infiltrated protest sites, raised misleading slogans and attempted to turn workers' grievances into violent demonstrations for political gain.
He urged garment workers not to be misled by rumours or propaganda and called on them to immediately return to their respective workplaces and maintain discipline.
The minister also assured that the cases lodged against innocent workers and labour leaders arrested in connection with the unrest would be considered for lawful release.
Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, Prime Minister's Adviser Mahdi Amin, labour leader and lawmaker Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas also joined the meeting.
Labour organisation leaders including Mirza Al Shamim, Mostafa, Arbindu Bepari Bindu, Akash Ahmed Babul, Shakil Hossain Mobarak, Amir Hamza Khan, Touhidur Rahman, Manjurul Islam Manju, Lovely Yasmin and Md Zakir Hossain also joined the meeting.
The cabinet secretary, home affairs secretary, labour ministry secretary, senior police officials and top officials representing intelligence agencies were present during the talks.
Ahmed said the Labour and Employment Ministry by now completed the reconstitution of the Minimum Wage Board after consultations with representatives of both employers and workers.
He said the government had moved swiftly to fulfill a key demand of garment workers by reconstituting the board, which is formed every three years.
Ahmed said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman directed that the new wage structure should reflect workers' living standards and the country's overall economic realities, striking a balance between workers' welfare and the sustainability of the garment industry.
He said the first meeting of the newly constituted Minimum Wage Board is expected to take place shortly.
Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation general secretary Babul Akter, who represents the workers in the newly formed Minimum Wage Board, also urged RMG workers to return to factories and resume production immediately.
He said labour organisations had not called for any formal strike or factory shutdown, alleging that outsiders had been throwing stones at factories and creating disorder.
Akter said the reconstitution of the Minimum Wage Board had addressed one of the longstanding demands of garment workers and promised that workers' representatives would present strong proposals at the board's upcoming meeting.
He cautioned workers against involvement in criminal activities, saying no labour organisation would stand behind individuals engaged in violence or vandalism.
He called on workers to pursue their wage demands through institutional and peaceful negotiations without disrupting production and expressed optimism that a reasonable and acceptable new wage structure could be finalised by December.
