National

RMG workers block Nabinagar-Ashulia-Chandra highway for dues

A group of workers from a ready-made garment factory named Generation Next has blocked the Nabinagar-Chandra road at the Baipail intersection in Ashulia, demanding for their due salaries and allowances. As a result, traffic has been halted on the Nabinagar-Chandra and Abdullahpur-Baipail roads, causing significant inconvenience for the general public.

The protest began on Tuesday morning as workers gathered at the Baipail three-way intersection of the Nabinagar-Chandra Highway. Due to the workers' blockade, the road has effectively come to a standstill. At the same time, traffic has also been halted on the Baipail-Abdullahpur road, causing severe congestion in both lanes.

Angry workers said that the factory authorities have not paid wages and other allowances for the past three months. The authorities declared the factory closed a few days ago without paying the workers. Although the owners had promised several times to pay the workers' dues, no payments have been made in the last three months.

Saiful Islam, a worker from the factory, said, "For the past three months, I have been struggling to survive with my family. We are almost starving because we can’t pay the rent or cover debts at the shops. I can't find a job anywhere either."

Abu Bakar Siddique, Officer-in-Charge of Ashulia Police Station, said, "The workers have resumed their protests by blocking the highway again this morning. We are trying to convince them to clear the road."

Superintendent of Industrial Police-1 Sarwar Alam stated that discussions are ongoing regarding the protest by the Generation Next Limited workers.

Meanwhile, a factory-related source, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the factory’s chairman, Touhidul Islam, is currently absconding. The managing director of the factory, Rajiv Shetty, is an Indian national who has returned to India. As a result, the issue remains unresolved.

Earlier, on Monday, factory workers blocked the road and protested throughout the day.