Garment workers block Dhaka–Chattogram highway in Sitakunda over unpaid wages
Industrial and district police personnel were deployed to the scene to clear the highway
Garment workers of Mars Textile Manufacturing blocked the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in Sitakunda's Baro Aulia area this afternoon (11 October), demanding overdue wages.
The blockade triggered severe traffic congestion along the Sitakunda stretch of the highway, stranding hundreds of passengers and freight vehicles for hours.
More than 500 workers began the protest around 4:45pm, said Abdullah Al Mahmud, superintendent of the Chattogram Industrial Police.
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Speaking to The Business Standard, he said, "The workers had staged a demonstration at the factory last Thursday over unpaid wages. They called off the protest after being assured that the payments would be made on Monday."
"However," he noted, "tensions flared again today when a representative of the factory management informed workers that the payment would be delayed further. In response, they took to the highway and blocked traffic around 4:45pm."
Industrial Police and district police personnel were deployed to the scene and were trying to persuade the workers to withdraw from the highway, Abdullah said.
As of 5:30pm, police said the blockade was still in place.
