Concerns are mounting over possible attempts to destabilise the country’s law and order situation as December approaches, with intelligence agencies warning of potential attempts to exploit protests and grievances among different occupational groups to trigger unrest.
 
Law enforcement agencies have accused activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations of infiltrating recent garment workers’ protests and attempting to turn them into violent demonstrations. Intelligence sources also claim that people were brought to Dhaka from different districts to join the protests.
 
According to multiple intelligence sources, similar attempts could be made by exploiting demands raised by hawkers, rickshaw pullers, transport workers, teachers and other occupational groups. There are also concerns that vulnerable people living in slums and informal settlements could be used in acts of sabotage. However, detailed evidence supporting all these concerns has not been made public.
 
The issue has drawn attention following recent statements by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the home minister and senior police officials. Questions have also emerged over whether intelligence agencies failed to take adequate preventive measures despite having prior information about possible unrest.
 
Several months ago, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, announced plans to return to Bangladesh in December without specifying a date. Since then, concerns have grown over possible political instability during November and December.
 
Against this backdrop, authorities have intensified eviction drives against illegal roadside and footpath occupants in the capital and initiated steps to regulate battery-run rickshaws.
 
ALLEGED POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT IN LABOUR UNREST:
 
Intelligence sources claim that activists of the banned Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League were involved in recent garment workers’ demonstrations demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.
 
At a meeting at the Secretariat on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reportedly directed the Home Ministry to take legal action against those involved in violence in Mirpur, Savar and Gazipur.
 
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed subsequently said law enforcement agencies had been instructed to take legal action against those attempting to create instability by exploiting workers’ protests. He also alleged that some Awami League supporters in the business community had encouraged the unrest.
 
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) Deputy Commissioner for Mirpur Mohammad Rakib Khan said activists of the banned Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League had attempted to use garment workers’ demonstrations to create disorder.
 
He claimed that people had been brought from outside Dhaka and that more than 100 activists were present during protests in Mirpur. According to him, those arrested included grassroots Awami League activists from Barishal, Patuakhali, Cox’s Bazar and Gaibandha.
 
The DB official also identified Alif Molla, nephew of former MP Elias Mollah, as an alleged coordinator of the activities.
 
Nine people belonging to the Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League were arrested in connection with a procession in Kaliakair, Gazipur, while another 11 were arrested in Mirpur, according to law enforcement sources.
 
HAWKERS, RICKSHAW PULLERS UNDER SURVEILLANCE:
 
Intelligence sources suspect that political groups may also exploit protests by hawkers and rickshaw pullers to create further instability. Authorities have intensified eviction operations in the capital’s two city corporation areas and introduced regulations to bring battery-run rickshaws under greater control.
 
Sources claim that some activists who went into hiding after August 5, 2024, subsequently settled in Dhaka and became involved in different occupations, including rickshaw driving, street vending and shop work.
 
Transport owners and workers are also under surveillance following several incidents of bus arson. In a case filed over a bus arson incident in Savar in September, 40 people, including bus owner Habibur Rahman alias Hridoy, were named as accused. The case statement described him as an Awami League supporter and a close associate of former MP Murad Jong.
 
Meanwhile, questions remain over the effectiveness of intelligence operations and preventive measures.
 
Attempts to contact Additional Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam, chief of the DB, for comment were unsuccessful as he did not answer his phone.