Garment workers staged a demonstration and blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur’s Kaliakair upazila on Thursday morning, demanding higher wages.
Traffic movement came to a halt on both sides of the highway, triggering long tailbacks. However, the workers later withdrew the blockade.
In the morning, workers from several garment factories in the Mouchak area gathered to press for a wage hike. At one point, they took position on the highway, disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience to passengers and transport operators.
After receiving information about the protest, police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were deployed to the scene.
The workers said rising prices of essential commodities had made it difficult to support their families on their current wages. They are demanding an increase in the minimum monthly wage but said they do not want to resort to vandalism or road blockades.
Meanwhile, several garment factories in Mouchak and nearby areas declared general holidays amid fears of further unrest. Many workers expressed relief after the holidays were announced, saying they would spend the day resting and with their families.
Earlier on Wednesday, workers staged protests in Banglabazar area of Rajendrapur and Sardaganj area of Kashimpur in Gazipur. When they took to the streets, police removed them from the roads. Several factories in the areas also declared holidays to keep the situation under control.
Tensions were also reported among the workers in Konabari.
Mohammad Amzad Hossain, superintendent of police of Gazipur Industrial Police-2, said: “The situation is now normal. We remain alert and are monitoring developments.”
