Asif: Labour leaders saw individuals wearing helmets, shorts at protests

The government is set to take immediate action to address the growing labor unrest, which officials believe is being fuelled by external influences.

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, Labour and Employment Adviser, announced the government’s plan following a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday.

The meeting, chaired by Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, included Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, Fisheries and

Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar, and Industry Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan.

We’ve had multiple discussions with both the workers and factory owners regarding the unrest,” said Asif Mahmud.

Our industry adviser has also been involved in these discussions. What we’ve learned from labour leaders is that the current protests lack a clear set of demands, leaving even the

leaders puzzled. This suggests a significant involvement of external elements.”

He pointed out that the usual participants in labour movements are noticeably absent,

while an increasing number of outsiders have been observed. He noted that in some instances, protests have been sparked by delayed wages, and in a few cases, factory owners have fled, leading to worker

dissatisfaction. The government has responded by offering soft loans to affected workers, with plans to expand this support.

However, Asif Mahmud expressed concern over the presence of outsiders at protest sites, particularly in factory clusters. “In some areas, we’ve seen incidents of

vandalism, such as vehicle destruction, carried out by individuals with no previous involvement in labor issues.”

The adviser revealed that labor leaders reported seeing individuals wearing helmets and shorts, typically hired for disruptive activities, at these protest sites. “These are not genuine workers; they are outsiders,” he emphasized.

The adviser further said that the government is committed to addressing legitimate labor grievances through long-term dialogue. “We can’t reform labor laws in a single day. We’ve

asked labor leaders to differentiate between genuine workers and those with no ties to the industry.”

He also highlighted the government’s plan to take strong action against those exploiting the situation

for their own gain, including those involved in illicit activities related to the jhoot (fabric waste) business. “The syndicates once controlled by some local leaders have been disrupted, and now others are

attempting to seize control, leading to further unrest. The government will not tolerate this and will take decisive action.”

The adviser warned that local leaders from both the Awami League and the BNP have been implicated in exacerbating the unrest. “We’ve

discussed this with central BNP leaders, urging them to keep their local leaders in check. We will take a firm stand against any remaining influential local Awami League leaders involved.”

The adviser said that based on information from the Home Ministry, arrests of those responsible are imminent, and the police will act to alleviate public suffering caused by the unrest.

When asked how long it would take to restore normalcy, he replied, “Action will start today. The police will take appropriate steps to clear the roads without causing

damage. Those inciting the unrest will be arrested. We expect the situation to normalize from today onwards.”