For the fifth consecutive day, workers of Beximco have been blocking the Dhaka-Tangail highway, demanding their overdue wages.
Workers from the Beximco Industrial Park in the Sarabo area of Kashimpur, Gazipur, are holding demonstrations to press for their unpaid wages for October.
They occupied the Chakraborty intersection of the Dhaka-Tangail highway on Monday starting at 7am, causing severe traffic congestion as vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road.
Rafiqul Islam, sub-inspector (SI) of the Gazipur Industrial Police, confirmed that Beximco factory workers began their protests at 7am and have maintained their road blockade since.
Although the main road is blocked, drivers are trying to reach their destinations using alternative routes.
Protesting workers said that they will continue their movement until their wages are paid.
We will not return home until we receive our money. Today marks the fifth day of our protest. We have yet to receive any assurances from the authorities about our payment, they declared.
There are allegations that the workers are not allowing media personnel near the protest site.
A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "The workers are extremely agitated today. If they spot any outsiders, they snatch and destroy mobile phones. Their behaviour is highly aggressive, and tensions are escalating day by day."
Members of the army, law enforcement, and administrative officials are at the scene, trying to calm the workers with reassurances.
The Industrial Police said that Beximco Industrial Park employs 41,000 workers in its garment and ceramic factories. Among them, garment factory workers have been blocking roads for about a week, demanding their unpaid wages for October.
On Sunday, they blocked the Chandra-Nabinagar road from 8am to 7:30pm. Although they lifted the blockade at night, they resumed their protests on Monday morning, again demanding the payment of their overdue wages.
The Industrial Police are working to negotiate with the workers and bring the situation under control.
Attempts to contact the authorities of Beximco Industrial Park for comments have been unsuccessful.
The protest on the Dhaka-Tangail highway continues and has spread into the Gazipur metropolitan area, according to Savar Highway Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saugat Ul Alam.
