Dhaka:The government believes that attempts to incite unrest by exploiting garment workers' protests may continue beyond December, as long as Awami League president Sheikh Hasina is alive, according to Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Zahed Ur Rahman stated this at a press briefing on the progress of various government activities at the Secretariat. He emphasized that the government is prepared to resist such attempts.
Zahed explained that garment workers' wages are typically reviewed every five years, with revisions in 2006, 2010, 2013, 2018, and again in 2023. He noted that there was no plan to form a new wage board in 2026, only three years after the last revision. However, due to the rising cost of living, inflation, and increased fuel prices, the government formed the board ahead of schedule to support the workers.
The adviser highlighted that the government recognized the financial challenges facing garment workers and formed the wage board early out of sympathy. He stated that the workers' primary demand should have been addressed through this board formation.
Zahed raised concerns about violence and sabotage during protests, suggesting that these acts did not reflect the behavior of genuine garment workers. He mentioned that the Home Minister had cited intelligence information indicating possible cross-border involvement in these incidents.
Furthermore, Zahed noted that while Awami League may lack the organizational capacity for political activity, it could leverage its financial resources to instigate sabotage. He responded to inquiries about whether the unrest was being orchestrated to facilitate Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh in December, clarifying that the issue was not confined to that month.
Zahed also referred to a past statement by Sheikh Hasina, made after her party's defeat in the 1991 election, where she declared an intent to prevent the government from remaining peaceful. He suggested that this mindset might still be influencing the current situation.
Source United News of Bangladesh