Garment workers blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar on Wednesday morning, demanding an increase in the minimum wage, an end to the blacklisting of workers and the reversal of what they described as unjust layoffs.
The blockade caused severe traffic congestion, stretching nearly 2km along the highway and leaving thousands of commuters stranded.
Workers from several garment factories gathered near Hemayetpur bus stand around 9am and occupied the highway, bringing traffic to a halt.
As of 9:50am, when this report was filed, the workers were still occupying the road and continuing their protest.
The workers said the rising cost of living had made it increasingly difficult to support their families on the current monthly minimum wage of Tk12,500. They are demanding that the minimum wage be raised to Tk30,000, alongside an end to the blacklisting of workers and arbitrary layoffs.
According to police, workers from several garment factories in the Padma Mor area of Tetuljhora union gathered on Wednesday morning to stage the protest. Workers from AKH Garment Factory, who had initially reported for their shifts, later left the workplace and joined the blockade.
Md Asaduzzaman Noor, officer-in-charge of Savar Highway Police Station, confirmed the blockade and said additional police personnel had been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.