Labour leader escapes attempt on life in N'ganj

The meeting was being held at the office of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) to settle the labour unrest following the death of a garment worker in police fire on November 3 in the BSCIC industrial area.

According to Ismail, a gang of 10 to 12 hoodlums led by David suddenly stormed into the BKMEA office brandishing two revolvers and attempted to murder or abduct him at gunpoint near the stairs.

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He rushed to the conference room where BKMEA officials and labour leaders rescued him to safety.

Ismail filed a case with the Naraynganj police, identifying David as the prime accused.

The district 11-party leaders at a protest rally in the evening demanded the arrest of the identified attackers; otherwise, they threatened a tougher agitation programme.

Deputy Commissioner Harun-ur-Rashid said an order has been issued to arrest those involved in the incident.

The BKMEA president demanded the arrest and exemplary punishment of the attackers and called upon all to show restraint.

The officer-in-charge of Narayanganj Police Station said David has been absconding since the incident.

Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Mortuza Hossain, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police Hasan Mahmud Khondoker, BKMEA President Monjurul Huq, Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Harun-ur-Rashid, Police Superintendent Helaluddin Badri, Communist Party of Bangladesh leader Montu Ghosh and Workers Party leader Saifuddin Ahmed, among others, were present in the meeting.