Worker Beaten to Death for Filming Attack on Labourers; Government Blames Awami League for the Death

Gazipur Correspondent. November 4, 2026.

Tawfiq was filming the attack on the garment workers on his mobile phone, and the attackers took his phone and beat him up, seriously injuring him. Even after his death, questions have been raised about the government’s evasion of responsibility by making political statements instead of conducting an impartial investigation into the incident.

Worker Md. Toufiq Hossain, who was injured in the violence surrounding the garment workers’ wage hike movement in Gazipur, has died. According to media reports, he was attacked while recording the attack on the workers on his mobile phone during the movement, according to his family members and local sources. He died while undergoing treatment on Tuesday (November 3) after being admitted to the hospital with serious injuries.

Until last reported, Toufiq Hossain was a worker at Laila Stitches Ltd., a 100% export-oriented company in Sikderbari, Gazipur Sadar, Gazipur. He started working in this garment manufacturing factory as a layman in 2022.

According to a report by bdnews24.com, Toufiq’s elder brother Harun Mia said that his brother was trying to videotape the attack during the protest on Monday. At that time, the attackers attacked him and severely beat him. He was later taken to the hospital.

The death of the deceased Tawfiq is not just a case of losing a family’s breadwinner; it has also raised new questions about the violence in the workers’ movement to achieve their just demands, the political identity of the attackers, and the government’s tone of voice after the incident.

Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Sujan Mahmud posted on social media blaming the Awami League for Toufiq’s murder. Time: 00:56 on November 4th.

An attempt to give the movement a political color by hiding the identities of the attackers?

According to eyewitnesses, Toufiq was recording the entire incident on his mobile phone during the attack on the workers. At that time, some leaders and activists of the Jubo Dal or people associated with them took away his mobile phone and repeatedly beat him up. The seriously injured Toufiq was later taken to the hospital where he died during treatment.

Over the past two days, hundreds of workers have been detained from various areas including Mirpur and Gazipur. Many of them have been introduced to the media as members of the banned Awami League and its affiliates. Critics question how much political identity is needed in the movement that began to demand workers’ salaries and allowances and minimum wages? Is this an attempt to hide the real demands of the workers and place the responsibility for the movement on the Awami League?

The same political narrative about Tawfiq’s death

The government’s statements after Toufiq’s death have also been criticized for showing similar political tendencies.

The Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Sujan Mahmud wrote in a post on social media,

“The death of Toufiq proves that the labor movement is no longer among the workers. Awami League miscreants have started a conspiracy to destabilize the country. You, the garment workers, have finally become the victims of the Awami League. And if the agitators were garment workers, how could they attack and kill another garment worker!”

Although his statement alleged the involvement of the Awami League in Toufiq’s death, no specific answers were found to basic questions such as who beat him, why he was attacked, and what the political identities of the attackers were.

The important question here is, if a worker dies after being attacked for videotaping the scene of an attack, how can that be established as evidence of a conspiracy by the entire labor movement, the Awami League?

If any Awami League person or organization is involved in Toufiq’s murder, it must be proven through investigation. Similarly, even if members of Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal or any other political organization are involved, there is no opportunity to hide their identity and responsibility.

Political statements cannot be a substitute for investigation.

However, from the beginning of the movement until now, there has been criticism that the law and order situation, political intrigue, and Awami League’s involvement have been given more importance than effective and credible solutions to the workers’ core demands.

Although the government has talked about forming a wage board, the question remains as to how much clear assurance has been given to workers regarding their expected wages, implementation timeline, and a salary structure that is consistent with their cost of living.

Between the question of the livelihood and fair wages of millions of workers on the one hand, and the attempt to present the movement as a political conspiracy on the other – the main problem seems to be getting hidden.