Two Garment Factory Officials Arrested Over Alleged Sheikh Hasina Birthday Celebration in Ashulia

PNN News Desk | Dhaka

Police have arrested two officials of a garment factory in Ashulia, Savar, over allegations that they organized a celebration inside the factory to mark the birthday of Sheikh Hasina, the president of the now-banned Awami League and former prime minister. They were later produced before a court, which ordered them to be sent to jail following a hearing.

The two were arrested during a police raid at the Sintex garment factory in the Palashbari area of Ashulia on Tuesday (September 29) night. They were produced before the court on Wednesday (September 30) morning.

The arrested individuals are Md. Rubel Islam, son of Pobij Uddin of Nayapara village in Boda upazila of Panchagarh, and Md. Shahin, son of Lokman Hossain of Dhundar village in Nandigram upazila of Bogura. Both of them work at the factory as sewing supervisors.

According to police, an event was organized inside the factory on Tuesday night on the occasion of Sheikh Hasina’s birthday, with people brought in from outside. Police alleged that, apart from the two arrested officials, factory workers and several outsiders also participated in the event.

Police further said that a video recorded during the event was later circulated to different places. After receiving intelligence about the incident, police conducted a raid at the factory at night and detained Rubel and Shahin from the premises.

According to police, arrested Rubel Islam was formerly an assistant secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League's Carmichael College unit in Rangpur. He is currently working as a sewing supervisor at the garment factory.

Ashulia Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Anwar Hossain said the arrested individuals were being questioned and their involvement in the incident was being verified.

He said the two were produced before the court on Wednesday morning and, following a hearing, the court ordered them to be sent to jail.

The SI further said police operations were continuing to identify and arrest others who were allegedly involved in organizing the event.