A group of garment workers once again blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Gazipur's Mogorkhal area on Monday, only an hour after ending a 53-hour protest for unpaid wages. This renewed blockade has led to severe traffic congestion. The workers have vowed to maintain the blockade until the delegation sent to Dhaka to negotiate wage issues returns with a resolution.
Earlier, after 53 hours of protest, the workers lifted the blockade around 2:30 pm.
According to local sources, Gazipur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ershad Mia, along with police and army personnel, arrived at the Columbia Garments area to hold discussions with the workers. Following these negotiations, a delegation of workers was taken to Dhaka to address wage concerns. The remaining workers were asked by the army and police to clear the highway, with some complying and leaving the road, while others refused.
Subsequently, police and army forces dispersed the remaining protestors, allowing traffic to resume on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway around 2:30 pm. However, shortly after the army departed, a group of workers resumed their blockade around 3:30 pm, once again causing heavy traffic congestion on both sides of the highway.
The workers stated that they will not vacate the highway until the delegation returns from Dhaka with satisfactory news on their unpaid wages. Despite ongoing efforts by the local police and industrial police to persuade them to clear the highway, the workers remain firm in their stance.
Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Police of Gazipur Industrial Police-2, mentioned that although the government has assured the workers of wage payments, a segment of the workers returned to block the highway an hour later. Efforts are continuing to convince them to leave the road.