RMG workers block Dhaka-Ctg highway over unpaid wages in Cumilla
The blockage creates a 20-km-long tailback
Ready-made garment (RMG) workers in Cumilla's Chandina upazila blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway today (28 February), demanding unpaid wages, causing severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway.
The workers of the Denim Processing Plant factory started the demonstration around 9:30am in the upazila's West Belashahar area.
The blockade lasted for over an hour, creating a 20-kilometre-long tailback. Traffic resumed at 10:45am after intervention from local authorities.
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"Some of us are owed Tk30,000, some Tk40,000. This month, we were given only Tk6,000, which is not even enough for rent, let alone food," one worker said.
"No one thinks about us. We work for the owners, but no one cares how we survive. We had no choice but to come to the highway."
The workers also claimed that BNP activists, along with the police, intervened to remove them from the highway.
Eliotganj Highway Police Outpost Sub-Inspector Md Monirul Islam said, "We spoke to the factory owners and assured the workers that their salaries would be paid soon. That led them to leave the highway."
However, as of 2:30pm, heavy traffic persisted along a 10-kilometre stretch from Korpai in Burichang upazila to Madhaiya in Chandina, with highway and district police working to ease congestion.
Meanwhile, since the Cumilla BNP unit was scheduled to hold a conference in Chandina today, its leaders and activists joined efforts with police to clear the highway to ensure smooth movement of their party members.
Chandina upazila BNP Convener Md Atikul Alam Shaon said, "Blocking the highway over minor issues has become a habit. We assured the workers that we would talk to the factory owners to resolve their dues, and they withdrew the blockade trusting our words."
Workers of the same factory have blocked the highway multiple times in the past over unpaid wages.
