In reaction to continued worker unrest in Ashulia and other parts of the country, which officials think is mostly caused by outsiders, the administration has declared preparations to take a hard position to safeguard the country's economy and workers.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Adviser AF Hassan Ariff made the announcement following an emergency meeting at the Home Ministry on Wednesday.

During the meeting, attended by key advisers including Dr Asif Nazrul (law), Farida Akhter (fisheries and livestock), Adilur Rahman (industries) and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan (labour and employment), concerns were raised about the escalating unrest in the garment sector.

“We have received reports that the real workers are not involved in these acts of sabotage, as they would not destroy their own workplaces, which are their source of livelihood. These actions are being perpetrated by outsiders,” Hassan Ariff said.

“We urge the workers to resist these outsiders. If you stand against them, we will support you. However, these individuals have blended in so well that it has become difficult to segregate them,” he added.

He said the most significant disruptions have occurred at major factories, such as the Pran company’s plant in Cumilla, which was set ablaze. “Pran has never experienced worker unrest before,” the adviser said.

The adviser emphasized the need for decisive action to protect local factories and the broader economy. “If our local factories are destroyed, who stands to gain? Clearly, the real workers are not behind this chaos. Most of those involved are outsiders, and we need to be tougher in dealing with them,” he said.

When asked about the nature of these steps, he stated that further discussion is required but hinted that arrests or detentions may be conceivable.