Police disrupt NCP funeral prayer in Gazipur

Law enforcement agencies disrupted and dispersed a funeral prayer (gayebana janaza) organized in Gazipur's Chandana Chowrasta to pray for the soul of Toufiq Mia, a garment worker who died following injuries sustained during ongoing labor protests.

Police personnel lobbed sound grenades to scatter participants as preparations for the prayer got underway on Tuesday afternoon (November 4). National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders claimed that more than 20 activists from the party and its affiliated organizations sustained injuries during the police action.

According to eyewitnesses, the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jatiya Sramik Shakti jointly organized the funeral prayer around 12:45 PM following the death of 20-year-old garment worker Toufiq Mia from Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, who succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment after being critically hurt during the wage protests in Gazipur.

Prior to the prayer, central and local leaders of the NCP and Sramik Shakti delivered brief remarks. As central NCP leader Ali Nasher Khan led participants to begin the religious service, police intervened and attempted to block the gathering.

When participants sought to proceed with the prayers despite police resistance, security forces deployed sound grenades, instantly scattering the crowd.

Denouncing the action, NCP central chief organizer and executive committee member Ali Nasher Khan stated that police unjustifiably obstructed a peaceful religious observance. He demanded a thorough investigation, fair trial, and exemplary punishment over the killing of garment worker Toufiq, while urging the government to immediately address the legitimate demands of protesting workers.

In a social media post, Ali Nasher Khan asserted that police launched an assault on attendees during the funeral prayer, injuring over 20 members of the NCP and affiliated bodies.

Among the reported injured are Jatiya Sramik Shakti Convener Mazhar Fakir, Gazipur District NCP Member Secretary Abul Kashem Master, Sramik Shakti Joint Member Secretary Sheikh Raihan, Gazipur Metropolitan Jubo Shakti Chief Organizer Md Zillur Rahman, Sramik Shakti Central Member Sheikh Sahana, Konabari Thana Jubo Shakti Chief Organizer Rakibul Islam Joy, Kaliakair Upazila NCP Member Akram Hossain, and Konabari Thana Jubo Shakti Member Secretary Zaman Dhali.

Requests for comment regarding the incident directed to senior officials of the Gazipur Metropolitan Police went unanswered as authorities declined to issue a statement.

-SA