A section of factory workers staged a blockade on Dhaka-Aricha Highway on Wednesday, demanding the implementation of government-mandated wages and allowances.
The demonstration began around 8am in front of a factory located at Nabagram on the busy thoroughfare.
The protest caused traffic to come to a complete standstill on both sides of the highway, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded and causing significant distress to passengers travelling to and from ferry terminals.
According to workers, the factory management has long denied them the salaries and benefits stipulated in the government gazette. The protesters further alleged that the authorities had promised to increase pay and allowances before Eid, but failed to honour the commitment, which prompted the highway blockade.
The workers claimed they were frequently threatened with dismissal whenever they raised demands for their rightful wages.
To prevent any untoward incidents, additional police were deployed to the area. As of 12pm, Shibalaya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Monisha Rani Karmakar was present at the scene, attempting to persuade the workers to withdraw the blockade by providing assurances that their demands would be addressed.
