Govt warns rioters

The government said yesterday that it would take tough action to stop the chaos in the RMG sector and bring the persons responsible for the violence to book.
"We will investigate the incidents and ensure punishment of those involved directly or indirectly with the violence," Labour and Employment and Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said after an emergency inter-ministerial meeting.
The meeting was called after directions from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the wake of a series of violence in the garments sector over the last few days.
Commerce minister Faruk Khan, State Minister for Labour and Manpower Monnojan Sufian, Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Annisul Huq, Bangladesh Garments Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Abdus Salam Murshedy, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Fazlul Haque and senior police and Rab officials were present at the meeting.
Briefing newsmen, Mosharraf said the government is gravely concerned about the violent incidents in the country's premier earning sector, and has taken the issue very seriously.
"The present situation will be handled strictly to protect life and property -- as directed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina so that no further unrest erupts in the RMG sector," he said.
The minister said that proper measurers will be taken to identify those directly or indirectly involved with the incidents and would be brought to justice.
Mosharraf expressed his deep sympathy for the family members of the two persons who lost their lives during the violence. He said a special unit of law enforcement agencies would soon be put to work to oversee security of the industry sector round the clock.
He also hinted that outsiders might have been involved in violence at the RMG units but refrained from making any further comment about this.
The minister said the crisis management cell of the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment would soon visit the spot and investigate the incident.