Garment workers in Gazipur blocked key highways on Tuesday over unpaid wages and protesting the assault of a fellow worker.

The workers staged demonstrations on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways causing severe traffic congestion and disrupting daily commutes.

Spinning mill workers block highway in Gazipur over unpaid wages

Law enforcement agencies, including the army, intervened to restore order. Tongi East Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Faridul Islam said efforts were underway to remove the protesters and restore normalcy.

The unrest began in Tongi’s Hossain Market area, where workers of BSIS Apparels garment factory took to the streets, demanding a month’s unpaid wages. Their protest escalated into a highway blockade, leading to widespread traffic disruption.

Commuters faced immense difficulties as the demonstration brought traffic to a standstill. Upon receiving reports of the protest, law enforcement officials arrived at the scene and attempted to negotiate with the workers.

In a separate incident in Mouchak, Kaliakair upazila, garment workers staged a protest after one of their colleagues was assaulted at a factory. In response, they blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, leading to further congestion. Police and other security personnel reached the area to bring the situation under control.

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Fearing an escalation of unrest, authorities declared several garment factories in Itahata and Islampur areas closed for the day. Additionally, multiple chaotic incidents were reported across different garment factories, leading to at least five factory closures.