Attempt to Create Unrest in EPZ!

Chittagong Bureau    |    ০৬:১৮ পিএম, ২০২৫-০১-২৫

Three children attempted to steal goods from a construction site at the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and were caught by security guards, who beat them and forced them out. Several workers from a nearby garment factory witnessed the incident through a window. After the factory's shift ended, the workers noticed one of the children was missing, and rumors spread that "blood was needed for the construction of the building, so the child had been slaughtered and buried there."

This sparked a violent reaction from the workers, who began vandalizing the construction site and assaulting the security guards. The army, navy, industrial police, and local police arrived on the scene and managed to control the situation after four hours. The following day, workers continued their protest, engaging in another round of destruction, arson, and burning documents from the BEPZA office. Three BEPZA officials were injured during the assault and are receiving medical treatment.

Police have said that some malicious groups are intentionally spreading rumors to incite workers and create instability in the EPZ. Outsiders are also reportedly involved in spreading these false stories, which are being orchestrated by anti-state elements.

On Saturday morning (January 25), a press conference was held at the Dambpara Police Lines in the city following the two consecutive days of protests at the Chattogram EPZ.

Raiz Uddin, a police officer, explained, "On the evening of January 22, three children entered an under-construction building on EPZ Road 2. Workers from the construction company caught them, and while they released two of the children, they detained one. Workers from a nearby factory on the fifth floor saw the incident and spread rumors that the children had been slaughtered. After the factory's shift ended, the workers became agitated and vandalized the construction site, setting fire to workers' shelters and other materials."

He continued, "The next day, workers returned to the building searching for the children, and they caused further destruction, including vandalizing the BEPZA office and setting fire to documents. Three BEPZA officials were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment."

According to police sources, the three children who entered the building were identified as Robiul, Hasan, and Sagar, aged between 10 and 14 years. Robiul is from Saltgola Crossing, Hasan from Mile's Head, and Sagar from Freeport.

What Happened Over Two Days:

According to multiple eyewitnesses and intelligence sources, on the evening of January 22, the three children entered the construction site of Sheltech Engineering Limited on EPZ Road 2 with the intent to steal iron pieces. Security guards caught Hasan and Sagar, hitting them and throwing them out, while they tied Robiul to the fifth floor with a rope and beat him. This was witnessed by several factory workers through a window. When the factory shift ended, the workers went to check for the children. They found Hasan and Sagar but couldn't find Robiul.

Social media posts then began circulating, claiming that "blood was needed for the construction, so one child was slaughtered and buried in the building." More than a thousand workers gathered at the site and beat up the security guards and construction workers. The Navy patrol team, who were passing by, intervened and saved the workers, taking them into their vehicle. Police, industrial police, and army personnel arrived at the scene, and the mob also vandalized police vehicles.

Around 10 PM, the workers gathered at Freeport, near Nabil Colony-1, and demanded the children be returned. Even when the authorities presented the three children, the workers insisted that they were not the same children, claiming they had been murdered. By midnight, the authorities managed to disperse the crowd.

The next evening, on January 24, around a hundred workers gathered again, setting fire to two motorcycles as an excuse to search for the children. They also vandalized the BEPZA office, setting fire to documents and assaulting three BEPZA officials. The situation was brought under control by 10:30 PM.

In a press conference, Officer Raiz Uddin urged caution regarding rumors, stating, "This situation has been deliberately created by spreading false rumors. The rumor that the children were slaughtered in the building is completely false. Workers, whose livelihoods depend on the factories, cannot engage in such violence. Anti-state groups are systematically spreading these rumors, and if the garment sector becomes unstable, foreign investments will be hindered."