4 cases filed against 10,500 over Mirpur protest

Police have filed four separate cases against approximately 10,500 unnamed individuals in connection with two consecutive days of violent readymade garment (RMG) worker protests, vehicle arson, and attacks on law enforcement in Dhaka's Mirpur area.

So far, 22 individuals have been arrested in connection with the cases, Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of Mirpur Model and Pallabi Police Stations confirmed on Monday afternoon, November 2.

Mirpur Model Police Station OC Md. Hafizur Rahman stated that one case was registered at his station over the vandalism of a traffic box and assault on police personnel, naming 3,000 unidentified suspects. Six individuals have been formally arrested under this case while CCTV footage is being analyzed to identify and apprehend additional suspects.

Pallabi Police Station OC Jalal Uddin confirmed that three cases were filed at Pallabi station by the police as plaintiffs, covering charges of arson on a police vehicle, attacking officers, obstructing government duty, and vandalizing traffic boxes. Each Pallabi case lists between 2,000 to 2,500 unnamed individuals as accused, with 16 arrests made thus far.

Detectives revealed that local leaders and activists belonging to the banned Awami League attempted to exploit the workers' movement to orchestrate large-scale sabotage across Mirpur, organizing partly through online social media groups.

Among those detained in Mirpur, 11 have been identified as active members of the banned Awami League, Juba League, and Chhatra League. Investigators confirmed that these individuals are not local garment workers, but had assembled from various districts to incite violence, spread public panic, and create nationwide instability under the guise of labor demonstrations.

On Monday morning, fresh tension emerged around 10:45 AM when groups of workers attempted to enter the main roads through an alley in the Senpara Parbata area of Mirpur-10. Security forces promptly dispersed the crowds using tear gas shells. A second attempt to block the road near the Proshika intersection by Mirpur Stadium was also foiled by police.

Following two days of intense clashes, heavy contingents of law enforcement personnel remained stationed across Mirpur-10 and surrounding intersections on Monday. Riot control vehicles, water cannons, and armored vehicles were kept on standby at the main roundabouts, while regular vehicular traffic and pedestrian movement continued smoothly.

-SA