Over a hundred job seekers on Monday demonstrated demanding jobs in front of the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Ashulia, Savar for the second day.
The protesters later blocked the Nabinagar-Chandra highway by placing bamboo on it, causing traffic jams for at least 5km in both directions.
Meanwhile, the EPZ was under heightened security, with army and police personnel deployed inside.
Several local factories announced closures due to this situation.
Around 11am, the army and local police talked to the protesters and cleared them.
However, within 10-15 minutes, they resumed their position on the road. The protesters continued their demonstration until 3pm.
There are allegations of assault on garment workers during the protest.
A female worker among the protesters said: "We want jobs. We are protesting here, demanding jobs, but our demands are not being met."
Eyewitnesses reported that some of the new EPZ security personnel were also assaulted. Many of the assailants were armed with sticks.
EPZ officials said that due to Sunday's protest, some individuals were asked to submit their CVs. Many complied, but some demanded immediate employment without submitting CVs.
The Superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, Sarwar Alam, said that job seekers were asked to submit their CVs, but they refused. He talked to them in the morning and cleared them, but they resumed blocking the road later. The police are deployed to control the situation.
However, no comments were obtained from anyone at the EPZ regarding this matter.
