Workers lift blockade after nearly three hours in Kaliakair, traffic normal on Dhaka-Tangail highway

Workers have withdrawn a blockade of the Dhaka-Tangail highway after nearly three hours, in a protest demanding higher pay and allowances. On Tuesday (October 27) at around 1:45pm, workers from various factories withdrew the blockade and left Mouchak in Kaliakair, Gazipur. Traffic on the highway has since returned to normal.

Police and workers said workers of Essential Clothing Ltd began the protest in front of the factory on Tuesday morning demanding higher pay and allowances. They then marched and took position on the Kaliakair-Fulbaria road.

During this time, the protesting workers pressured various nearby factories to declare a holiday. At one stage, brickbats were thrown at the gates of several factories. To keep the situation under control, the authorities of many factories on that road declared a holiday.

The workers later took position at Mouchak on the Dhaka-Tangail highway and blocked it. Traffic on the highway stopped and passengers suffered.

Kaliakair police station officer-in-charge Shahidul Islam said the workers have left the road and vehicle movement is gradually returning to normal.