Khelafat Andolan Calls for Action to Foil Conspiracy to Destroy Garment Industry

Maulana Habibullah Miazi, Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, has called on the government to take strict action against any conspiracy to destroy the country’s readymade garment (RMG) sector by instigating garment workers.

In a statement sent to the media on Tuesday (November 3), he said the government must thoroughly investigate whether supporters of the fascist forces were instigating violence in the ongoing protests in the garment sector while disguising themselves as workers.

In the statement, Maulana Miazi said masked individuals had been seen taking part in the protests while posing as workers. He alleged that anti-national conspirators were attempting to create unrest in the country by bringing garment workers and evicted hawkers onto the streets.

He said these groups were pushing the country’s industrial sector towards destruction while luring workers into protests with promises of higher wages and putting their jobs at risk. More than 600 garment factories have already been shut down, leaving hundreds of thousands of workers unemployed, he added.
He called for the swift identification and strict punishment of those who, disguised as workers and wearing masks, were involved in vandalism and setting fire to industrial establishments.

The Khelafat Andolan chief said genuine workers would never destroy their own sources of employment. He alleged that conspirators were instigating workers to take to the streets in an attempt to exploit the situation for their own interests.

He called for strict action against those creating disorder and urged the authorities to foil all attempts to destroy industries under the cover of labour unrest.
Calling for the release of innocent workers who had been arrested, he said the livelihoods of millions of people were linked to the garment industry. Therefore, all concerned, including factory owners and workers, must remain highly cautious and sincere in protecting the sector.

Referring to the market situation, Maulana Miazi said it was the government’s responsibility to consider workers’ reasonable demands and ensure decent wages and benefits amid rising prices of essential commodities.
He said the government must bring the prices of daily necessities within people’s purchasing capacity and ensure that owners, workers and all other citizens could live comfortably.

He added that resolving labour unrest would not be possible without the prompt formation of a permanent wage commission. According to him, permanent commissions in at least 90 countries around the world have helped create stable working conditions and ensure job security for workers.
Finally, he made an earnest appeal to protesting workers to refrain from vandalising government and private establishments and vehicles in the name of demonstrations.