Gazipur sweater factory workers demonstrate against factory closure
The factory says it will observe lay off from 24 November as there is no work, and the workers will get compensation during this time
Workers of a sweater factory in Gazipur's Choydana area staged a demonstration and blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for an hour and a half after their factory announced closure today (24 November).
The blockade that started at 8am created traffic gridlock on both sides of the road, causing immense suffering to the commuters.
Traffic movement resumed at 9:30am when police and the army went to the spot and chased away the workers from the road.
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"Traffic movement became normal after that," said Md Ibrahim Khan, deputy police commissioner (traffic) of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP).
Industrial police and workers said the workers of Amity Sweaters Limited found a notice hanging in front of the factory when they returned to work this morning, stating that the factory had been closed.
"As there is no work right now, the factory will observe lay-off from 24 November under Bangladesh Labour Act. The workers will get compensation during this time, and they don't need to provide attendance in person during this time," the notice reads.
Becoming agitated after seeing the notice, the workers took position on the highway and created a blockade in the morning, stopping vehicular movement on both sides of the road.
