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The government believes that the activities of the banned Awami League may be linked to violence surrounding the ongoing garment workers’ protests. However, the government does not believe that the unrest is part of any move to pave the way for ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s return to Bangladesh in December.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Broadcasting Zahed Ur Rahman made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists at a regular press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
He said the government does not believe that the Awami League, as a political party, is capable of carrying out activities in Bangladesh. However, the party has substantial financial resources allegedly accumulated through looting, which it may use to create sabotage and unrest in different places.
Referring to Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed’s remarks about the possible involvement of the banned Awami League in the garment workers’ protests, Zahed Ur Rahman said the home minister had indicated that he possessed confirmed information in this regard.
“So, there may indeed be links with them (the banned Awami League). But that does not mean these incidents are taking place to pave the way for her (Sheikh Hasina’s) return in December. The government does not view the matter that way,” he said.
At a press briefing at the Secretariat on Monday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the government was alert to possible incitement or instigation by outsiders in the ongoing garment sector unrest.
He said the government suspected that some former ministers, state ministers and lawmakers of the banned Awami League, along with garment factory owners linked to the party, were attempting to create instability by exploiting the workers’ movement. The government is also collecting information about some fugitive leaders associated with the party, he added.
Speaking about the garment workers’ protests, the information adviser said workers had legitimate demands and had also staged peaceful demonstrations. However, various incidents were now taking place surrounding the movement.
He expressed hope that genuine workers would respect the government’s initiative to form a wage board in response to their principal demand and withdraw from the protests.
Acknowledging that rising living costs had made life increasingly difficult for garment workers, Zahed Ur Rahman said the government understood their situation.
He added that the formation of the wage board should have addressed the main demand behind the movement. Questioning the continuation of the protests and reports of violent behaviour by some participants, he said such acts, as described by the home minister, could not be attributed to genuine garment workers.