Workers block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, isolated protests break out in Gazipur
One of the factory owners cited banking issues as the cause for delayed salary payments. Police are mediating between the workers and management to resolve the unrest, which affected thousands of commuters.
Workers from several factories in Gazipur have been protesting since morning (17 September) with various demands, including salary and other benefits.
The Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Tongi, Gazipur, was blocked by workers from Seasons Dresses Limited around 9:30am, leading to severe traffic congestion.
Workers from factories in Tongi, Chandra in Kaliakoir upazila, Chakrabarti, and Shirishchala in Gazipur Sadar took to the streets early in the morning, protesting wage issues. The road blockage stretched from Beximco to Zirani, bringing traffic to a standstill and affecting commuters in the region.
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At Seasons Dresses Limited, located in Tongi's Khapara area, workers demanded their overdue salaries for the month of July.
Factory owner Baha Uddin Chowdhury Bakr said, "The salaries have been disbursed, but due to issues in the banking channel, the workers have not yet received them. As a result, the workers blocked the highway this morning," Bakr told the media.
Mosharraf Hossain, senior assistant superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police said, "Efforts are being made to communicate with the factory owners. At present, the highway is blocked."
Workers in Chandra and Chakrabarti on the Dhaka-Tangail highway also protested over unpaid wages. Workers from Mahmud Jeans Limited and Niagara Textile Limited in Chandra voiced their demands, while workers from Beximco Group in Chakrabarti staged a demonstration seeking their due wages.
In Shirishchala, under Joydebpur police station in Gazipur Sadar upazila, workers of Executive High Fashion Limited have gone on strike.
The protesting workers reported that the factory employs around 1,500 workers. Previously, they had presented several demands to the factory management.
On the night of 16 September, around 10pm, as factory employee Mohammad Arman was returning home from the office, some unidentified individuals assaulted him and snatched his wallet and mobile phone.
The workers suspect that the factory authorities had their people plan the assault because of the demands presented by the workers.
In Rajendrapur, under Gazipur Sadar police station, workers of Tasmia Herbal Limited are staging a strike, demanding an eight-point increase in wages.
Since 8:30am today, they have been on strike, creating an uproar inside the factory. The industrial police are trying to mediate between the factory management and the workers.
Meanwhile, workers of Veritas Pharmaceutical Limited are protesting with a nine-point demand for wage increases under the Anti-Discrimination Workers' Movement.
Md Imran Ahmed, additional superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Zone-2, said, "The unrest started in several factories in the morning. Solutions have been reached with some after discussions between the workers and the management. Talks are still ongoing with others, and we hope the issues will be resolved soon."
