Garment workers block Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur's Kaliakair again today over Tk 30,000 wage demand, traffic halted

Garment workers are protesting by blocking the Dhaka-Tangail highway at Kaliakair in Gazipur, demanding that the minimum monthly wage and allowances be set at Tk 30,000.

Workers from various factories began the protest by blocking the highway at the Palli Bidyut area of Kaliakair upazila at around 8:30am on Monday (November 2).

The protesting workers said they will not leave the highway until an announcement is made setting their monthly wage and allowances at Tk 30,000. They also said they will continue the blockade and protest programme until the demand is met.

Eyewitnesses said a group of workers took position on the highway at the Palli Bidyut area in the morning and began protesting. The number of workers there then grew, and at one stage traffic on the highway came to a halt.

Vehicles were stuck on the Dhaka-Tangail highway because of the blockade, and passengers suffered in the traffic congestion.

Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent of Police Mohammad Amjad Hossain said thousands of workers took position at the Palli Bidyut area of the Dhaka-Tangail highway at around 8:30am on Monday, halting traffic on the highway. Members of the law enforcement agencies, including the industrial police, have started work to restore traffic and keep the situation under control.