Similar stories were reported from pharmaceutical factories. However, the management of such industries (non-apparel) did try to resolve the issues with their workers at an early stage. But the situation was different in the case of garment factories. It is alleged that garment factory owners and industry leaders who used to have close connection with the erstwhile fallen regime tried to handle protesting workers even with genuine grievances in the same way that they did in the past. Obviously, that was through the use of force with the help of hired goons. But this policy is not supposed to work under the changed circumstances. In that case, those who allegedly pursued such strong arm tactics to suppress workers with legitimate demands were perhaps some Rip Van Winkles in the garment sector who failed to come to terms with the changed realities. As a consequence, the situation only worsened in the industry as it was rife with rumours that hit panic button among workers to resort to further violence and anarchy. However, as noted in the foregoing there were also instances of labour unrest that were not based on genuine demands, but meant to create chaos. In such cases, as reported by some garment workers, they were incited to agitation and violence by outsiders whom they were not acquainted with.
There is no question that the mass-student upheaval that unseated the immediate past regime has impacted different sections of the working people who think that they are somehow deprived and have a cause to fight for and hence demonstrate their strength to raise new demands. Also, there are others, who want to fish in troubled waters. They might be the beneficiaries of the past government who have a stake in destabilising the mainstay of the country's export sector. There is also the turf war over the lucrative jhut (garment waste) trade that has intensified with the change in political power.
So, whether the labour unrest in the garment sector arose out of workers' genuine demands or that it was the work of saboteurs out to create disorder should be found out before addressing it accordingly. The industry leaders must restore order in their own interest.
The police force that they would depend on so much during the previous regime to quell any labour unrest in their factories with an iron hand is still recovering from the trauma of September 5 revolution. And one should not fail to notice that in about every case of law and order issue, other supporting forces including the military have to come in aid of the police, an arrangement no doubt expensive. Understandably, the garment sector has a strong claim to the government's attention for the simple reason that their products make up more than 80 per cent country's exports. But given the fact that the current interim government which is only one-month-old and yet to fully organise itself, its response to every trouble may not be instant. The industry leaders need to understand this and not wait for the government's support to deal with day-to-day problems like in the past. It may be recalled at this point that in the beginning when the workers as well as troublemakers started to run riot in Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur, the industry leaders met with the interim government advisers a number of times seeking urgent strong action by the law-enforcement agencies. However, later they came up with the idea of conducting joint drives with help of the army, police and the BGB (Bangladesh Border Guard) and suggested the interim government accordingly. Thankfully, the joint drives have reportedly produced results with the arrest of some people (14 persons charged with instigating workers to create unrest). Meanwhile, the good news is, the majority of the garment factories except 49 units in Ashulia area reportedly started operation by Saturday as workers joined their duties. To maintain law and order, the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the Border Guard and Army personnel were found patrolling streets in the industrial area. Evidently, the wave of post-revolution uncertainties and instability that jolted society is gradually settling down. It is the unity of people that has made it possible. Every segment of society, the garment workers included, should own the change that has taken place and in this crisis time lend a hand so the nation may tide over.
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