Garment workers block Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur over wage demands, one factory shut indefinitely

Garment workers from several factories have again blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur, demanding the speedy implementation of the minimum wage and a pay rise. On Thursday (12 November) at about 8:30 in the morning, the workers stayed away from work and took position on the highway at Mouchak in Kaliakair upazila of the district.

The sudden blockade trapped hundreds of vehicles on both sides of the key highway, creating a severe traffic jam. Long-distance passengers and ordinary pedestrians are facing extreme suffering.

Local sources said workers of one garment factory first stopped work and took to the streets in the morning with several specific demands, including a higher minimum wage. Within a short time, several thousand workers from other nearby factories joined them. At one stage, as the agitated workers sat on the highway chanting slogans, all traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail route came to a complete halt.

The protest also affected nearby industrial areas. Workers of Islam Garments and Standard Garments in the Konabari and Jarun areas of Gazipur city did not enter their factories from the morning and instead took position at different places outside.

Meanwhile, amid the unstable situation, the authorities of MM Knit Wear Limited in Konabari have declared the factory closed for an indefinite period to avoid any untoward incident.

Large numbers of law-enforcement personnel have been deployed at the scene to bring the situation under control. Kaliakair police station officer-in-charge (OC) Shahidul Islam said police reached the spot after the workers blocked the highway in the morning and tried to move them away to restore traffic, but the workers are regrouping again and again and retaking position on the road.

Members of the joint forces, including police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and SRB, are now on alert to restore order on the highway.