7 arrested over attack on Mahmud Jeans DMD

Gazipur police have arrested seven people in a case filed over an attack on Mahmud Jeans' Deputy Managing Director Rafee Mahmud, who is also the son of the company's owner.

The arrestees are Noyon Babu, 35, who hails from Naogaon; Kajol Hossain, 32, who hails from the same district; Rajeeb Mia, 42, of Kurigram's Krishnapur; Rubel Rana, 28, of Sirajganj's Kazipur; Ashraf Ali, 54, of Kurigram's Rajarhat; Khademul Islam, 37, of Rangpur; and Shahin Dewan, 52, of Munshiganj.

Confirming the matter to The Business Standard, Kaliakair Police Station's Sub-Inspector Atikul Islam said Rafee filed a case against over 500 people, with 18 named accused, on Friday night over the attack. 

"Police arrested seven of the accused within that night. They have been produced before the court today [30 November] and the court has sent them to jail," he added.

Rafee was allegedly beaten on Thursday (28 November) by the factory's protesting workers, who have been demanding their outstanding salaries, after Rafee went to negotiate with them.

Rafee, who is also the vice-president of Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Association (Bayla), in a statement to Bayla members yesterday said, "They [workers] tried to murder me yesterday. I couldn't even speak for two minutes before the mob started attacking from all around."

"Later I was dragged and slammed under the flyover and was assaulted by big bricks, metal rod and tree branches. As soon as I got hit on the back of my head I fainted for a while."

When I became conscious, I felt them grabbing my neck, suffocating me and dragging me into my factory and later they locked me inside."

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has strongly condemned the attack. 

In a press statement yesterday, BGMEA said such an attack is "unacceptable" and the incident will send the wrong message about the country's industry to the outside world.

BGMEA also demanded those who are involved in instigating and destabilising the industry be brought to justice.

Workers of Mahmud Jeans in Gazipuron staged a demonstration blocking the Dhaka-Tangail highway on Thursday, demanding their due wages.

The blockade began at 9am, causing traffic congestion stretching several kilometres on both sides. Around 8pm, the blockade was lifted on one side of the highway easing the congestion.

Police and workers said the protest erupted over unpaid dues, including one month's outstanding wages for workers, service benefits, and delayed salaries of six to nine months for some factory officials.

The workers further said that in August, they had to stage a prolonged demonstration for unpaid wages, which had accumulated to five months at that time. Although the owners settled some payments then, dues for some workers remained.

According to sources, Rafee Mahmud has been trying to sell property to pay the dues. He went to the factory on Thursday evening to discuss the workers' dues.