Readymade garments (RMG) workers on Friday blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway demanding three months' unpaid wages for workers and five months' for staff members.
The workers of Mahmud Jeans Limited factory in Kaliakoir, Gazipur, started their protest around 9am in the Chandra area of the upazila.
Later, they moved to the highway, which halted traffic movement on both sides of the road.
Workers, requesting anonymity, said that the factory authorities have not paid their wages for the past three months. Supervisors and other upper staff have five months' wages pending.
On Wednesday, workers protested demanding overdue wages. Although the factory authorities promised to pay on Thursday, no payment was made.
That night, workers held their protest inside the factory. They only dispersed after the police provided assurances that their wages would be paid by the factory authorities.
As of the time of this report at 1pm, the army and industrial police were present at the scene overseeing the workers' actions.
The factory’s Line Chief Azhar Hossain, Supervisor Bachchu Mia, and Swing Operator Halima Khatun, along with other workers, said that they have been enduring severe hardships due to not receiving their wages for the past five months. Shopkeepers are no longer providing goods on credit, and no one is giving loans.
Gazipur Industrial Police Inspector Nitai Chandra said that all staff and workers of Mahmud Jeans Limited have been protesting for their wages since morning. They have been holding peaceful protests inside the factory for several days. The army is currently speaking with the workers.
