GM Sadhan’s press briefing on the incidentAbduction drama over control of jhut trade in Ashulia

In Ashulia of Savar, several jhut (garment waste) traders have been accused of forcefully picking up a readymade garment factory’s General Manager and torturing him inside a vehicle after failing to obtain jhut materials from the factory.

According to the allegation, local trader Bakul Bhuiyan, his son Rony, Sujon, and several others abducted the GM. Reliable sources claim that the entire incident was pre-planned.

In connection with the alleged abduction, GM Sadhan has filed a General Diary (GD) with Ashulia Police Station. Police, however, have said the incident appears suspicious. They also stated that whoever is involved in the matter will be brought under the law following investigation, as disputes over the jhut business have previously led to killings.

Meanwhile, the incident has caused extreme fear among factory officials and Sadhan’s family. With the abduction story coming to light, panic has spread among those allegedly involved, as they fear arrest.

On Friday morning, December 5, Sadhan Kumar De briefed the media about the incident. The event took place on Thursday evening in front of The Rose factory located in Diyakhali area of Jamgora, Ashulia.

Eyewitnesses reported that on Thursday evening, Sadhan Kumar De, General Manager of Rose Dresses Ltd., left the office in a private car for his home. As the vehicle reached the factory gate, 6–7 young men blocked the car, forced the GM out, and took him away in their own vehicle. Immediately, news spread throughout the area that Sadhan had been abducted by local criminals over disputes surrounding the jhut business.

According to Sadhan’s statement, the abductors confined him inside the vehicle, physically assaulted him, and issued various threats. For nearly three hours, the vehicle was driven to different locations before the abductors finally dropped him off in front of the factory and fled.

It was also alleged that the criminals forced Sadhan to sign a document on a Tk 300 non-judicial stamp paper. The factory authorities claim that Bakul Bhuiyan, his son Rony, Sujon, and several other jhut traders coerced Sadhan into signing the document. Local residents say Rony is widely known as a notorious criminal in the area. They also allege that his father, Bakul Bhuiyan, despite maintaining a pious outward appearance, uses his son to run criminal activities tied to the jhut trade.

Police said they have already inspected the scene. Investigation is underway based on the GD and Sadhan’s statement. They confirmed that a syndicate of jhut traders is involved in the incident. Police are also questioning Sadhan. However, both Bakul Bhuiyan and his son Rony remain missing, and Sujon is reportedly on the run.

Victim and GM Sadhan Kumar De stated that the young men abducted him because he refused to give them access to the jhut business. He now fears for his life and personal safety.

Recently, the factory authorities had handed over a jhut supply contract (DT) to local youth Rony, causing conflict with another group who wanted the contract. Later, the factory decided not to give the jhut to either group and instead sell it on their own.

This sparked disputes between both sides. Rony also had previous conflicts with a former local chairman over the jhut business and had allegedly threatened to kill him. Though Bakul Bhuiyan appears to be a religious man, locals say he shelters the criminal activities of his son and his associates.

Regarding the issue, the factory management stated: “Our factory’s operations are being severely disrupted due to disputes surrounding the jhut business. Fear has spread among workers. We demand appropriate punishment for the real culprits.”