Rashed Khan, political assistant to the Prime Minister, has said that the Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer cannot evade responsibility for the violence allegedly carried out by the Awami League during the garment workers’ movement.

He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after the funeral prayer of Israel Hossain Jibon, former joint convener of Kaliganj Upazila BNP in Jhenaidah, on Tuesday (November 3).

Rashed Khan said they fully support the legitimate demands of workers. However, he alleged that the Jamaat Ameer could not avoid responsibility for the violence surrounding the workers’ movement.

He said the Jamaat Ameer had declared during a long march that everything belonging to the government would be destroyed. The workers’ movement began after that statement, and subsequently, the Awami League and Chhatra League started carrying out acts of vandalism, he alleged.

He further claimed that the garment industry was being targeted to destroy Bangladesh’s economy. Several garment factories had been set on fire, while buses and five to six police vehicles had also been torched. He alleged that police officers, members of the police force and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel had come under attack in different areas.

Referring to a video, Rashed Khan said it showed people identifying themselves as workers but allegedly affiliated with the Chhatra League brutally beating a police member with sticks.

He said ordinary workers could not be responsible for such violence. According to him, genuine workers were demanding that the government set the minimum monthly wage at Tk 30,000. The government had formed a wage board in response, and the workers wanted to place their trust in the government. Many workers had already returned to their workplaces, he added.

However, Rashed Khan alleged that those continuing the violence were not genuine workers but members of the Chhatra League and the Awami League.

He also claimed that efforts might be underway to create another political crisis similar to the January 11 (1/11) political changeover, in connection with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s reported plan to return to Bangladesh in December.

Expressing regret, he further alleged that another force that had been part of the mass uprising and was now in the opposition was encouraging violence through the Jamaat Ameer’s remarks about destroying everything.

Leaders of Kaliganj Upazila BNP were present on the occasion.

All allegations regarding the Awami League, Chhatra League and Jamaat Ameer have been attributed to Rashed Khan.