Workers of a ready-made garment (RMG) factory barricaded the Alankar Intersection, one of the busiest points in Chittagong city, yesterday afternoon demanding their outstanding wages.
The blockade caused long tailbacks on the city roads connected to the intersection. The demonstration was still going on when this report was filed, according to sources in the Industrial Police.
Azizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Pahartali police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that about 900 workers of the RMG factory, The Moons Ltd, put up the blockade around 4:30pm in demand of their wages outstanding for two months.
“The workers went to the factory yesterday morning and asked the authorities to pay their dues. When the authorities did not respond agreeably, the workers became agitated and took to the streets to press home their demand,” he said.
The factory authorities were unavailable for comment despite several attempts by this reporter.
Representatives of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) went to the scene and talked to the workers to calm the situation.
“They also met with the factory authorities to resolve this issue,” the OC said.
Later, Shamim Hossain, factory owner, went to the scene along with the BGMEA representatives and assured the agitated workers that their dues would be cleared by Wednesday, said the police official.
Getting the assurance from the factory owner, the workers lifted the blockade from the road around 7:45pm, he said.
