Garment workers have blocked the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Gazipur, a key gateway to the capital, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000.
The blockade has caused severe traffic congestion, disrupting movement and causing suffering for commuters on Monday.
Workers began gathering on the highway in Chandra Palli Bidyut and Mouchak areas of Kaliakair upazila from 7am after refusing to join work at their factories. Police fired sound grenades in an attempt to disperse them.
Since morning, groups of workers have remained on the highway instead of reporting to work. Although the protest was still in its early stages, the number of workers continued to grow, heightening tensions and raising the possibility of larger demonstrations.
Law enforcement personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain order. Police continued firing sound grenades to clear the highway.
Several workers declined to speak to reporters. Some alleged that genuine factory workers were not involved in the protest and claimed that a group of outsiders was attempting to carry out vandalism and organise demonstrations.
Following the latest wave of unrest, the government announced the formation of a new wage board for the workers. However, worker dissatisfaction has yet to be fully resolved. Against this backdrop, tensions resurfaced in the industrial belt on Monday morning.
