Workers of TNZ garment factory in Gazipur have blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for the third consecutive day, demanding payment of their arrears.
The workers who took to the highway on Saturday continued their demonstration on Monday morning, leading to severe traffic congestion and creating immense hardships for commuters.
Despite assurances from the Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), Crime Division, Traffic Division, Industrial Police, and joint forces, workers have pledged to stay on the road until they receive payment.
From Monday morning, thousands of protesters have blocked the highway, prompting authorities to declare holidays at 12 nearby factories to prevent unrest.
Workers are rotating shifts to keep the blockade active, with those who spent the night on the highway leaving in the morning and those who stayed home joining the protest by daybreak.
Traffic has diverted through Joydebpur, Banmala, Tongi, and the Gazipur-Bhogra Bypass, while travellers are walking to alternative routes at Gazipur’s Chandana Chowrasta.
Northbound passengers are rerouting through Gazipur Chowrasta and Chandra to avoid the blockage.
According to the Industrial Police, around 4,000 workers from TNZ Apparels Limited, Basic Clothing Limited, Apparels Plus Eco, Basic Knitwear Limited, and Apparel Art Limited have not been paid in three months. Though payment schedules were set multiple times, the factory management failed to follow through, prompting workers to block the highway for 48 hours.
Despite attempts by law enforcement to resolve the issue, workers are adamant about receiving their dues first.
Traffic remains severely affected with a 35km gridlock stretching from Tongi in the south to Rajendrapur in the north.
Stranded passengers, unaware of the blockade beforehand, were seen walking to their destinations.
However, the protest has remained peaceful, with no reported vandalism or aggression by the workers.
The Gazipur Metropolitan Police has urged commuters to use alternative routes, updating their official Facebook page with traffic advisories.
Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Ibrahim Khan said that workers have rejected repeated requests to clear the road, asserting they will only vacate after receiving payment.
Superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Sarwar Alam said that while the factory owner has repeatedly failed to fulfil wage promises, discussions with government officials, including BGMEA, are ongoing to resolve the issue soon.
