Fascist forces behind the violence

Allegations of a coordinated conspiracy involving fugitive Awami League loyalists, politically connected industrialists and foreign forces have emerged amid continuing unrest in Bangladesh’s garment sector, with the government claiming that vested interests are exploiting workers’ grievances to destabilise the industry and the country.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday alleged that several industrialists linked to the ousted Awami League regime, including former ministers and lawmakers, were involved in instigating the unrest.

“Some of them were MPs, ministers or state ministers at different times. We have information that these industrialists are behind the unrest, and it has been established,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after a meeting with leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) at the Secretariat.

The minister alleged that supporters of the ousted regime were using workers to create instability through highway blockades, arson and violence. Some individuals operating under the banner of labour organisations were also involved, he added.

Salahuddin said the authorities had collected video footage, audio recordings and other evidence of violent incidents, and some suspects had already been brought to justice.

He also alleged that some factory owners had deliberately shut their establishments to aggravate the situation. BGMEA and BKMEA leaders had agreed to provide the government with a list of factories allegedly closed with ulterior motives.

The authorities had also sought information about labour leaders and organisations suspected of instigating the unrest.

The minister maintained that genuine garment workers and their organisations were unlikely to be involved in the violence, as they would not want to jeopardise their livelihoods.

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury has separately alleged that a multidimensional anti-state conspiracy was under way to destabilise and overthrow the government before December.

Prime Minister’s Adviser and Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin also accused supporters of the ousted regime of diverting workers’ legitimate wage demands through provocation and sabotage.

In a Facebook post on Monday, he said evidence had emerged of attempts by fugitive political forces to infiltrate workers’ movements and exploit their grievances to create instability.

BKMEA President M Hatem echoed the government’s position, saying the current unrest was not a genuine workers’ movement or a wage-board agitation but a politically motivated issue.

He said he had maintained regular discussions with workers’ representatives and tried to ease tensions, adding that workers in his factories were continuing their jobs.
“The government should investigate who is behind this unrest,” he said.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Shramik Jote General Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Montu also claimed that garment workers were no longer leading the agitation following the government’s decision to form a wage board, although the move had come somewhat late.

He alleged that fugitive Awami League elements and India’s intelligence agency were behind the continued unrest, seeking to destabilise the country and damage its garment industry.

Foreign interests and economic rivalry
Claims attributed to several investigating agencies and law enforcement sources point to an alleged joint effort by foreign intelligence operatives and former regime-linked business interests to finance violence and sabotage industrial establishments.

The allegations suggest that the objective is to weaken Bangladesh’s commercial position in the US market, create economic instability and facilitate the political rehabilitation of the ousted Awami League leadership.

The claims also link the alleged conspiracy to Bangladesh’s improved trade prospects following a trade agreement with the United States in February 2026. Under the agreement, Bangladeshi garments using US cotton and man-made fibres were reportedly granted zero tariffs, while the overall reciprocal tariff was reduced to around 19 per cent. Specialised pharmaceutical exports also received tariff exemptions under Section 232.

The allegations contend that these arrangements have increased competition for India’s textile hubs in Tiruppur, Surat and Panipat, while opening new opportunities for Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports to the US market.

According to the claims, prolonged industrial instability and the cancellation of international orders could benefit competing Indian exporters by redirecting US and European orders worth billions of dollars.

In Gazipur, government representatives and local lawmakers have alleged that political activists and vested interest groups have infiltrated workers’ demonstrations to provoke violence.

There are also allegations that former mayor Jahangir Alam and his associates have links to the unrest in the industrial area, while some Awami League leaders and activists have allegedly joined demonstrations posing as garment workers and taken part in vandalism and arson.

Similar allegations have surfaced in Narayanganj, where individuals linked to fugitive former Awami League MP Shamim Osman, his brother and former Jatiya Party MP Selim Osman, Jubo League leader Shah Nizam and Fatullah Chairman Monirul Haque Sentu have reportedly been accused of mingling with workers and aggravating the situation.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) reportedly detained activists of the banned Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League over alleged involvement in setting fire to police vehicles, disrupting traffic and contributing to the temporary closure of Metro Rail stations.

According to the reported DB investigation, those detained were not employees of nearby garment factories but had travelled to Dhaka from districts including Barishal, Patuakhali, Cox’s Bazar and Gaibandha before allegedly joining the violence disguised as workers.

The investigation has also reportedly identified Alif Molla, a nephew of fugitive former Mirpur MP Elias Molla, as a coordinator who allegedly brought outside activists to the capital.

Police and intelligence agencies have also reportedly collected video footage showing the alleged involvement of several activists, including Sajbul Islam, organising secretary of the Jagannath University Chhatra League unit.

The government has maintained that those responsible for violence, arson and sabotage will face legal action, while insisting that legitimate workers’ demands must be addressed through dialogue rather than confrontation.