Joint forces have arrested Abdul Halim, 48, a director of the TNZ Group, from Maleker Bari area in Gazipur Metropolitan for allegedly instigating a labour movement.
Halim has been accused of provoking workers to stage a three-day highway blockade, resulting in vandalism, public suffering, and the alleged misappropriation of nearly Tk5 crore.
Following his arrest, Gazipur Metropolitan Police's Basan Police Station officers presented Halim in court on Wednesday afternoon (13 November), seeking a 10-day remand for further questioning.
According to Basan Police, the allegations against Halim involve inciting workers to blockade a major highway for three consecutive days, causing significant disruption and damage.
The investigation revealed he is implicated in fraudulent activities, leading to the embezzlement of around Tk5 crore from the TNZ Group.
Joint forces apprehended him from an area in Chattogram after a thorough operation, and two separate cases, including charges under the Special Powers Act, have been filed against him.
The situation arose when workers from TNZ Group’s five factories in the Maleker Bari area of Gazipur staged protests, demanding payment of three months’ overdue wages.
From Saturday to Monday night, they blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway for approximately 60 hours, causing severe public disruption.
During the demonstration, several factories were vandalised, forcing the shutdown of TNZ Group’s five units and around 45 neighbouring factories.
The blockade was lifted, and the situation was brought under control after the Ministry of Labour intervened and arranged for the workers’ outstanding dues to be settled.
