Workers in Gazipur end Dhaka-Mymensingh highway blockade called over unpaid wages

Garment workers demanding two months' unpaid wages and bonuses lifted their blockade of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway after two-and-a-half hours this morning (17 April) in the Jainabazar area under Gazipur's Sreepur upazila.

According to local sources, employees of HDF Apparels Ltd staged the protest around 9:30am, bringing traffic to a standstill on both sides of the highway. 

Despite heavy rain, the workers remained on the road until around noon, when a military patrol team, along with police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and industrial police, arrived and convinced them to withdraw.

Traffic resumed on the highway shortly afterwards at around 12pm. 

The protesting workers said their salaries for February and March were unpaid and that the factory authorities had failed to disburse Eid bonuses and other festival allowances on time.

"We are owed two months' wages and various allowances," said worker Ayesha Akter. 

"We've had several meetings with the factory management before, but they didn't pay us. That's why we had no choice but to take to the streets. We're protesting in the rain out of desperation to feed our families," she added. 

HDF Apparels' Human Resources Officer Shipu Chowdhury said, "Discussions are ongoing with higher authorities regarding the workers' dues. Meanwhile, the workers have resorted to blocking the highway."

Sreepur police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Zainal Abedin Mandal told The Business Standard, "As soon as the blockade began, police, RAB, industrial and highway police attempted to negotiate with the workers.

"When they refused to move, a military patrol team arrived and spoke with them, after which the workers cleared the highway. The situation is now normal," he added.