Workers set fire and blockade highway again in Gazipur, 11 BGB platoons and 25 magistrates deployed

Tension continues in Gazipur over the garment factory workers' movement. On Tuesday morning (November 3), workers set fire and blockaded the Dhaka-Tangail highway in the district's Naojor area, bringing traffic to a halt from Joydebpur Chowrasta to Naojor Mor.

At around 9:30am, workers blockaded the highway in front of the Diganta Sweater factory. They brought piles of rubbish and waste from beside the highway onto the road and set it on fire, and stopped all kinds of vehicles including autorickshaws and motorcycles.

Journalists present at the scene were obstructed when they tried to speak to the protesting workers and collect information, photos and video.

Meanwhile, the administration has increased the number of BGB personnel and executive magistrates in the district to bring the situation under control, and security around the workers' movement has been tightened.

Assistant Commissioner (Media) Arif Hossain of the Gazipur Deputy Commissioner's office confirmed the information on Tuesday morning. He said 10 platoons of BGB had been deployed earlier in response to the workers' protests, and with one more platoon added, a total of 11 platoons are now on duty in the district.

The number of executive magistrates has also been raised. Where 21 executive magistrates were on duty before, BGB members are now working under the leadership of 25 magistrates.

Arif Hossain said law enforcement forces are on alert so that state property and people's lives and property are not damaged in the name of movement. BGB members have already begun duties in the field, and members of other forces are also ready, he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, a little before 8am, several workers tried to blockade the Dhaka-Tangail highway in the Mouchak area of Kaliakair, Gazipur.

Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Amjad Hossain said law enforcement members persuaded the workers to leave the highway without any conflict. He said force members are on alert at every point of the highway.

For the past few days, workers of various garment factories in Gazipur have been protesting by blockading the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways, demanding a wage increase and other demands.

During that period, a police box, a police vehicle and a factory warehouse were set on fire. Several people from both sides were injured in multiple rounds of clashes between workers and law enforcement, several people were detained, and authorities declared holidays at several factories because of the movement.