Thousands of workers from various readymade garment (RMG) factories in Gazipur have blocked several roads, causing major traffic disruptions for commuters.
The protests and road blockades, which began on Tuesday morning, have led to traffic congestion from the Beximco area in Kashimpur to Zirani.
Workers from Season Dress Ltd, Niagara Textile Ltd, Beximco Textile, Veritas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and Executive High Fashion Ltd are protesting on the roads, demanding issues be addressed, including unpaid wages.
Workers from Executive High Fashion Ltd stated that around 1,500 workers are employed at the factory.
On Monday, after the factory closed, one of the workers Arman was assaulted and robbed by miscreants on his way home at 10om. Workers suspect that factory authorities, upset by their demands, may have planned the attack.
Hence, from 9:30am on Tuesday, the workers began a peaceful strike.
Workers from two other factories blocked the Kaliakoir-Nabinagar and Dhaka-Tangail highways, disrupting traffic for about an hour.
Police and army personnel arrived on the scene and removed the workers from the highway later.
Meanwhile, workers from Veritas Pharmaceuticals Ltd presented a nine-point demand, including a wage increase.
Industrial Police Assistant Superintendent Golam Morshed Khan said that the workers blocked two spots on the highway demanding unpaid wages, but the army and police quickly brought the situation under control, allowing traffic to resume.
Industrial police remain deployed to maintain order, he added.
Meanwhile, the workers from Season Dress Limited are demanding two months of due wages.
Factory owner Bahauddin Chowdhury Bakr said that they had promised to pay two months of wages and half of July’s wages by September 15, which the workers had agreed to. However, due to issues with bank withdrawals, the payment could not be made on time.
He added that he tried to explain the situation to the workers, but they started protesting without listening.
