The government formed a high-powered committee Sunday comprising representatives from the country’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the recent arson attack on a leading apparel group.
The committee, headed by Additional Secretary, ministry of home affairs, Mainuddin Khandaker, has been given seven working days to submit its findings to the ministry of home affairs.
This is the third committee after the local administration and the ministry of labour formed two other probe bodies in respect of the arson attack.
The ministries of labour and home took the decision at an emergency meeting with the chiefs of the country’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies at Probashi Kallyan Bhaban in the capital, two days after the devastating fire incident at Standard Group at Konabari in Gazipur district.
Senior leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) along with the owners of the fire- ravaged factory were also present at the meeting.
“Chiefs of Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), National Security Intelligence (NSI), Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), representatives from labour union, a senior labour ministry official will be members of the body,” Minister of Labour and Employment Eng. Khandker Mosharraf Hossain told the reporters after the meeting on the day.
Terming the arson attack unfortunate, the minister said minimum monthly wage of workers has already been increased by more than 76 per cent, which was agreed by both workers and owners last month. “So, no such situation has arisen at the moment that could lead to the incident,” he said.
“We took the matter very seriously and necessary instruction was given to the law enforcement agencies to identify the attackers,” he said adding that the ministry will soon sit with the union leaders as well as the international buyers as part of the government move to bring stability in the country’s highest foreign currency earner, readymade garment (RMG) industry.
Responding to a question, state minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku said the law enforcement agencies have started the process of identifying the arsonists.
When asked about co-relation between the arson attack and the ongoing political impasse, he said the investigators are carrying out their jobs, taking all possible factors into their consideration.
“We want to see the culprits behind the bars. We can’t tolerate such activities that could put the industry at risk,” the state minister asserted.
After emerging from the meeting, BGMEA president Atiqul Islam said they have expressed their concerns to the ministers over the atmosphere now prevails at the apparel industrial belts.
“The ministers have assured us of justice and we’ll wait till reports of the bodies are available,” he added.
Talking to the FE, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gazipur, Abdul Baten said they have launched drive there to hunt down the suspects in connection with the arson attack.
“More than 30 people have so far been arrested in this connection,” he said.
The arson attack was launched on Standard Group located at Konabari in Gazipur in the early hours of Friday, which cost Tk 12.0 billion to the apparel manufacturer in the form of gutted garment products, vehicles and valuable machinery.
Nearly 19,000 workers are engaged in the Standard Group in manufacturing apparel products for the world’s leading retailers and brands like GAP, American Eagle, Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, KOHL’S, Sears, Abercrombie and Fitch and Gymboree.
@rrajowan / FE
