Protesting workers, demanding their dues, gave the administration a one-hour ultimatum before sitting on the Kakrail-Paltan road in Bijoynagar on Monday afternoon, bringing traffic on both sides to a halt.
The protesters are workers and employees of TNZ Apparels Ltd, Apparel Plus Eco Ltd, Roar Fashion Ltd, Style Craft Garments, and DIRD Composite Textile Ltd.
Earlier in the day, the workers had been demonstrating in front of the Srom Bhaban in Bijoynagar.
At around 3:45pm, they announced that they would block the road if their demands were not met within an hour.
Shortly after, they sat down on the road.
Since the morning, they have been holding a sit-in to demand their overdue salaries, Eid bonuses, maternity leave payments, service benefits, and compensation for their deceased colleague, Ramprasad Singh.
The workers said that although they initially intended to protest on the road, they decided to demonstrate in front of Srom Bhaban out of consideration for the month of Ramadan.
However, as their demands were not met, they moved their protest to the street.
Zahirul Islam Zahir, a worker and labour leader of Teen Age Apparel said: “Our pending salaries and Eid bonuses were supposed to be paid on Tuesday. However, before that, the factory owners disappeared. So, we will continue our protest until we receive our rightful dues.”
Rehana Begum, a worker from Style Craft said: “Although we were given assurances yesterday, no steps have been taken to compensate the family of our colleague Ramprasad, who passed away. That is why we are compelled to protest.”
Notably, on Sunday, during the sit-in in front of Srom Bhaban, a garment worker named Ramprasad Singh, 40, fell ill and passed away.
Following his death, the protesters confined labour officials.
They lifted the blockade at around 9:45pm after receiving assurances from the administration.
The officials were released after being held for seven hours.
Meanwhile, a high-level government meeting was supposed to take place at 11am on Monday regarding the issue.
However, reports suggest that it did not happen.
