4 arrested over Grameen factory fire, placed on one-day remand

Four individuals have been placed on a one-day remand following their alleged involvement in a fire at the factory of Grameen Fabrics and Fashion Ltd in Kashimpur, Gazipur, on Wednesday evening.

Reyaz Uddin, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, confirmed the arrests, saying, "Based on specific information and evidence, the four individuals were arrested during a raid in Kashimpur on the night of the incident. Among them is a labour leader, and the others are workers. Authorities are continuing efforts to arrest additional suspects."

The arrested individuals were presented before the Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Court today. The court granted a one-day remand, the police officer added.

Earlier on the day, GM Tariqul Islam, manager (admin) of Grameen Fabrics and Fashion Ltd, filed a case naming 400 to 500 unidentified workers from Beximco Industrial Park Ltd as suspects in the fire incident.

In the case statement, Tariqul Islam said that since the closure of the factories at Beximco Industrial Park in December 2024, workers have held several protests. They have been demanding the reopening of their factory, payment of overdue wages, resumption of banking services, and the reopening of letter of credit (LC) facilities.

Their protests included a road blockade on 21 December, which was dispersed by law enforcement using tear gas and rubber bullets. On 14 January 2025, workers formed a human chain stretching 11 km, followed by a mass rally on 21 January.

According to the statement, on Wednesday afternoon, workers blocked the Chandra-Nabinagar highway. Later, around 4:30pm, 400-500 unidentified people, armed with sticks, torches, iron rods, and knives, unlawfully gathered in front of the main gate of Grameen Fabrics and Fashions' factory in Sarabo, Kashimpur.

They vandalised the gate, forcibly entered the factory, and attacked security guards, leaving them injured. When the guards tried to resist, the miscreants caused chaos inside the factory, damaging various installations and setting fire to the machinery and fabric warehouse on the ground floor.

The fire resulted in significant damage, destroying fabric, machinery, electrical equipment, and firefighting materials, with an estimated loss of Tk18 crore. Fire service members later arrived to put out the blaze, the statement added.

Superintendent of Police AKM Zahirul Islam, of Gazipur Industrial Police-2, also confirmed the incident, saying, "The protesting workers from Beximco Industrial Park broke into the main gate of Grameen Fabrics and Fashions' factory on Wednesday evening and set it on fire. Firefighters later extinguished the blaze.

"The fire destroyed all the fabric garments on the ground floor of the five-story building, and some machinery and goods were also damaged. As a result, no activities took place at the factory yesterday, and its operations were halted."

Grameen Fabrics and Fashions Ltd is a social business owned entirely by the Grameen Telecom Trust. Founded by Nobel laureate and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, the company promotes social business and produces Bangladesh's first long-lasting mosquito nets, designed to protect against malaria, dengue, and other mosquito-borne diseases.

The company has also partnered with the Babylon Group to create affordable and hygienic sanitary napkins for garment workers and low-income women in Bangladesh. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the company produced various types of protective equipment, according to sources.