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28 held over violence during garment workers’ wage protests
Published : Sunday, 1 November, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Observer Online Report
Police and the Detective Branch (DB) have detained at least 28 people over alleged violence and sabotage during ongoing garment workers’ protests demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 in Mirpur and other parts of Dhaka.
Police claimed that those detained included leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and other banned organisations.
DB Mirpur Division Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rakib Khan and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mirpur Division Deputy Commissioner Abu Naser Rikabdar confirmed the detentions on Sunday afternoon.
According to police sources, the DB Mirpur Division detained 11 people over allegations of planning sabotage and involvement in clashes in Mirpur-10 and surrounding areas. The DMP Mirpur Division detained another 17 over allegations of preparing to stage a procession after carrying out acts of violence.
DB Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rakib Khan alleged that a political group was using ordinary workers as a cover to create instability amid the garment workers’ movement for higher wages.
He said those detained included grassroots-level leaders and activists from different districts, including Barishal, Patuakhali, Cox’s Bazar and Gaibandha.
Citing preliminary investigations, he alleged that Alif Mollah, nephew of fugitive former lawmaker Elias Uddin Mollah from Pallabi and Rupnagar, was coordinating the activities. Alif was also accused of bringing party activists from different districts to Dhaka and organising them in Mirpur.
Police claimed that around 100 political activists had mingled with ordinary workers during Sunday's violence. Efforts were underway to identify and detain them.
Police said the identities of two detainees, named Rakib and Arif, had been confirmed, while the identities of the others were being verified.
Meanwhile, social media posts by several political activists have drawn attention amid the protests. Police alleged that a group had infiltrated the workers’ movement and was attempting to incite violence.
Sajibul Islam, organising secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League's Jagannath University unit, shared several photographs and videos related to the protests on Facebook on Sunday. In a post published at 2:17 PM, he commented on Awami League programmes. Earlier, he had also shared photographs and videos of the workers’ demand for a Tk 30,000 minimum monthly wage.
Around 11:00 AM on Sunday, a police vehicle was set on fire beneath the Mirpur-11 metro rail station. Police and protesters were involved in several rounds of chases and counter-chases. Police reportedly fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to bring the situation under control.
Train services were temporarily suspended at Pallabi, Mirpur-11 and Mirpur-10 metro rail stations amid the unrest.
After the situation came under control in the afternoon, DMP Joint Commissioner Mahidul Islam spoke to journalists at Mirpur-10 roundabout.
He said police had information that members of banned political organisations had infiltrated the workers’ movement and were attempting to deteriorate the law and order situation.
He added that sufficient police personnel had been deployed and roads had been made passable to reduce public suffering and maintain peace in the area.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, 01550707296
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], Online-email: [email protected]
