United News of Bangladesh

Workers of a readymade garment factory on Friday morning blocked Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur to press home their 14-point demand, including Eid and production bonus. Vehicular movement on the highway remained suspended for one and half hours till 11:30am, causing suffering of commuters. Police and locals said workers of SMUG Sweater Ltd in Telipara area started demonstrations inside the factory around 8am. Spinning mill workers block highway in Gazipur over unpaid wages At one stage at 10am, the protesting workers took to the highway, halting vehicular movement, they said. The workers alleged that despite years of service, around 1,200 employees of the factory have not received their overtime pay, night shift allowances, maternity leave benefits, or annual bonuses. They also claimed that their production rate payments were inconsistent, forcing them to go for movement. Workers block highways over unpaid wages, assault protest in Gazipur The demands include payment of Eid bonuses, overtime dues, and the resignation of the general manager of the factory. AKM Zahirul Islam, superintendent of police for Gazipur Industrial Zone-2, said workers staged demonstrations and blocked the highway over their demands, including the Eid bonus. Gazipur Metropolitan Police and industrial police removed the workers from the highway around 11:30am, resuming operation of vehicles, he added.