Zahed suspects AL link but rules out Hasina return plot 

The government suspects that leaders and associates of the activities banned Awami League may have links to violence surrounding the ongoing garment workers’ movement, but does not believe the unrest is part of an attempt to facilitate the return of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in December.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman made the remarks while responding to journalists at a regular press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

He said the Awami League, whose political activities are banned, no longer has the organisational capacity to operate politically in Bangladesh. However, the party may still attempt to create unrest by spending money allegedly accumulated through corruption during its years in power.

Referring to Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed’s statement that the government had specific information about the involvement of former Awami League ministers, lawmakers and garment factory owners linked to the party, Zahed said such connections could exist.

“However, this does not mean that the violence is being orchestrated to pave the way for Sheikh Hasina’s return in December. The government does not believe that,” he said.

On the workers’ movement, the adviser acknowledged that rising living costs, inflation and higher fuel prices had made life increasingly difficult for garment workers. He said the government understood their legitimate demands and had already formed a new wage board to address the issue.

He urged genuine workers to respect the government's initiative and withdraw from the protests, saying the formation of the wage board should have addressed the movement’s principal demand.

Zahed also questioned the continuation of demonstrations and incidents of violence after the wage board was announced, saying such activities could not be attributed to genuine garment workers.

Explaining the government's position on police use of force, the adviser said law enforcement agencies had legal authority to use force, including lethal weapons, when circumstances justified it. However, such force must strictly follow legal procedures and remain proportionate to the threat.

He stressed that police must exercise particular caution because they deal with citizens, unlike the military, which is primarily trained to confront enemies.

“Even when using lethal weapons, police must consider where to fire to control a situation while minimising casualties,” he said, adding that the government wanted to establish this practice under its administration.

Citing the death of Abu Sayeed during the July uprising, Zahed questioned why police had opened fire on him when he was standing with his arms outstretched and had not posed an apparent threat.

He acknowledged that disproportionate use of force could still occur in some instances, noting that changing longstanding policing practices would take time.

Criticising the policing approach under the previous Sheikh Hasina government, he said officers had often resorted to excessive force, including lethal ammunition, in situations where less severe measures such as baton charges or tear gas would have been sufficient.