Three Arrested After Armed Motorcycle Showdown in Tongi Industrial Zone

Three men have been arrested by the Tongi East police following an armed motorcycle showdown designed to intimidate garment factory management over the lucrative “jhut” (garment scrap) export trade. The incident, which took place in the Tongi industrial belt of Gazipur on 28 June, involved hundreds of motorcyclists parading weapons openly. On Wednesday, 1 July, law enforcement officials confirmed the apprehensions and the seizure of a motorcycle utilised during the standoff.

Identification Through CCTV Vetting

The Tongi East Police Station identified the suspects using closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained from the targeted industrial units. The detained individuals have been identified as Md Manoar Hossain, 28, son of Siddiqur Rahman from the Pagar area; Kazi Towhidul Islam Sajib, 35, son of the late Kazi Abu Fazal from the same locality; and Roni Kha, 39, son of the late Babul Kha from the Amtali Keranirtek neighborhood.

According to police chronicles, the targeted disruption commenced at precisely 11:57 am on 28 June outside the manufacturing facility of Faiza Button and Zipper Limited in Pagar. A massive convoy consisting of hundreds of motorcycles suddenly converged on the premises, completely blocking the factory entrances. Shortly after establishing their presence, a delegation of eight to ten men detached themselves from the main group and entered the administrative blocks.

The intruders confronted the factory’s Administrative Officer, Al Amin, delivering an explicit ultimatum: no garment waste or jhut was to be cleared or allocated to anyone without their prior authorisation. Crucially, international buyers were present inside the facility during this tense encounter, sparking widespread concerns regarding the safety of foreign trade representatives in the industrial hub.

Media Outcry and Ongoing Operations

The incident drew significant public interest after the national daily newspaper Glive24 first broke the story, broadcasting clear CCTV images of the intimidation. The report rapidly went viral across various mainstream media channels and social media platforms. Public outrage escalated over a specific piece of footage showing a masked motorcyclist carrying a pillion-riding youth who was brandishing a long, sharp local weapon in broad daylight.

The Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) has treated the security breach as a major institutional challenge. Mohammad Belayet Hossain, the Additional Commissioner (Crime and Ops) of GMP, told our representative that a comprehensive operation is underway under the direct supervision of the Police Commissioner.

He confirmed that while three operatives were captured during overnight raids, specialised police teams are actively pursuing the weapon-wielding teenager and the criminal masterminds orchestrating the extortion racket. Industrial security has been reinforced across the sector to reassure local factory owners and international trade delegations.