Fake Police Entry in Gazipur

Two men have been arrested in Gazipur, Bangladesh, after allegedly entering a footwear manufacturing factory while posing as police officers in an attempt to create unrest among workers.

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon in the Naojor area of Gazipur City Corporation at the premises of Pacific Footwear Industries Limited, a factory that has been in operation for approximately 17 years. The establishment has recently been operating under a contractual arrangement with a Chinese company, which has been responsible for managing production activities and paying workers’ wages.

According to factory authorities and law enforcement officials, around 250 workers had been left unpaid due to internal complications within the management structure. The situation had already generated significant tension, with workers staging several protests in the run-up to the Eid holiday period.

Tensions escalated further when representatives of the Chinese operating company reportedly attempted to remove materials from the factory earlier on Sunday. Workers resisted the move, prompting a brief confrontation. In response, members of the Industrial Police intervened to restore order.

During this volatile situation, two individuals—identified as Md Ilias (40) from Mia Para in Alikadam, Bandarban, and Arif Al Khokon (40) from Khidirpara in Lohajang, Munshiganj—allegedly arrived at the scene in a private vehicle bearing a “police” sticker. They reportedly introduced themselves as law enforcement personnel and attempted to enter the factory premises.

However, on-duty officers grew suspicious and questioned them. The pair were unable to produce any official identification. Following further verification, factory authorities contacted the national emergency service, after which police from the Basan Police Station arrived and detained them. A vehicle displaying “police” markings was also seized from the scene.

A case was subsequently filed by the factory’s human resources officer, Sheikh Palash Ahmed, at Basan Police Station. Authorities confirmed that legal proceedings are underway.

The Industrial Police stated that their personnel had been deployed to manage the earlier labour unrest and denied any connection to the arrested individuals.

Meanwhile, factory Managing Director S M Hasanuzzaman claimed that the ongoing crisis was being exploited and alleged that an Industrial Police superintendent had attempted to harass the factory management. He also asserted that the seized vehicle belonged to the officer in question and suggested one of the arrested individuals was known to him personally. These claims, however, were firmly rejected by the police official concerned.

Key Details of the Incident

Authorities have confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the accused were acting independently or as part of a wider scheme linked to the labour unrest at the factory.