26 jailed over violence during garment workers protest in Mirpur

A Dhaka court on Monday sent 26 people to jail in three separate cases filed over alleged attacks on police, vandalism, crude bomb explosions and arson during a garment workers protest in the capital’s Mirpur area.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrates Ariful Islam and Kalam Uddin passed the orders after separate hearings on November 2.

Of the accused, 13 were sent to jail in an Anti-Terrorism Act case filed with Pallabi Police Station, seven in a case under the Explosives Act and Penal Code and six in another Anti-Terrorism Act case filed with Mirpur Model Police Station.

According to the case statements, violence erupted on November 1 when thousands of garment workers gathered in Mirpur-12 and Mirpur-10 demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.

Police alleged that protesters attacked law enforcers, exploded crude bombs, set fire to a police pickup and vandalised a traffic police box. A female police constable, Samia, was also injured by brickbats.

Police further alleged that activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations joined the protests and were involved in the violence.

In their petitions, investigators said preliminary findings linked the accused to the incidents and that they were being interrogated to identify other suspects. They opposed bail, fearing the accused might abscond or hamper the investigation.

The court ordered the 26 accused to be sent to jail pending further proceedings. 

M.A.L/AH