Former employees of Islami Bank staged a protest on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway at Fouzderhat, causing a severe gridlock stretching nearly 10 km on both sides of the road.
The congestion extended from City Gate in Fouzderhat to Madam Bibirhat.
The demonstration began on Saturday morning, temporarily halting traffic on the country’s busiest highway. Although the blockade was later lifted, severe congestion persisted, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.
Around noon, the ex-employees held a human chain protest along the highway, attracting hundreds of participants.
They claimed that nearly 400 Islami Bank officials in the Chattogram region were unfairly dismissed, while an additional 4,000–5,000 staff members were placed on OSD (Officers on Special Duty), effectively sidelining them from work.
The ex-staff said these measures had left them struggling financially.
On Friday, the dismissed employees had announced at a press conference that they would begin a continuous work stoppage starting Sunday.
The protest began a day earlier with the human chain and highway blockade.
The road closure caused significant delays for vehicles heading to both Chattogram and Dhaka, leaving commuters frustrated. Many expressed angers at being unable to reach their destinations on time.
Police were deployed at the scene to maintain order. No untoward incidents have been reported so far.
Chattogram District Police’s Traffic Inspector, Rafiq Ahmed Majumder, said the blockade led to a 10-km traffic jam on both sides of Fouzderhat.
“The blockade has been lifted, and we expect traffic to return to normal within one to one-and-a-half hours,” he added.
