Workers protested by blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway on Saturday afternoon in Gazipur’s Barabari area, demanding clearance arrears and an Eid bonus.
National Chemical Manufacturing Company Ltd's Workers staged the Barabari demonstration on Saturday morning.
The protesting workers said that their salaries for April and May of this current year are outstanding. They were also protesting for the payment of last year's annual leave money, salary for two months and nineteen days, Eid bonuses, and the withdrawal of layoffs.
The workers positioned themselves in front of the factory gate and demonstrated from morning until 11am alongside the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Around 1:30pm, when the workers attempted to block the highway, the police chased them away. This resulted in the highway being blocked for about 20 minutes. Currently, the workers are stationed in front of the factory.
Attempts were made to contact the factory owner MNH Bulu, several times, but he did not respond. A source from the factory indicated that there had been a layoff since April due to financial crises and various instances of worker dissatisfaction.
Gacha police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ziaur Rahman said: "When the workers blocked the highway, the traffic was halted for about 10 minutes. Later, they were persuaded and removed from the highway. The situation is under control now."