Highway blockade in N’ganj over workers overdue, wages
Staff Correspondent :
Workers of a garment factory named Kores Bangladesh Limited in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway after stopping work, demanding payment of overdue wages and protesting against layoffs carried out without notice.
The workers alleged that the factory management was attempting to shut down operations without clearing their outstanding salaries.
On Thursday, workers blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in the Mouchak area by placing banana trees on the road and setting them on fire. As a result, vehicular movement on the highway came to a halt for nearly 45 minutes.
Later, following intervention by law enforcement agencies, the blockade was lifted and the workers moved to position themselves in front of the garment factory beside the road.
Due to the blockade, severe traffic congestion developed on both sides of the highway, stretching nearly five kilometers from Signboard to Kanchpur, causing extreme hardship for commuters.
According to factory management and worker sources, Kores Bangladesh Limited employs a total of 300 workers and staff, including 126 male workers, 124 female workers, and 68 staff members.
The factory, which is affiliated with BGMEA, is involved in the production of sweater-category garments.
Workers claimed that their November wages have still not been paid. Despite the wage payment deadline having passed, the management failed to provide any clear assurance, prompting workers to stop work in anger.
They further alleged that the management was attempting to close the factory without paying the dues. As a result, workers gathered in front of the factory and blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway.
Upon receiving news of the blockade, members of the Industrial Police, Siddhirganj Police Station, and Highway Police arrived at the scene.
They spoke with the workers and urged them to withdraw the blockade peacefully. Following assurances and mediation by law enforcement, the workers cleared the highway, and traffic movement returned to normal.
Major Mashiur Rahman, Director of Kores Garments, said that some outsiders were instigating the workers to take such actions. “There are rumors among the workers that the factory will shut down, but that is not true.
This month we have less work, and only the November salary is due. Apart from that, we have funds in the bank.
Due to temporary fund-related issues this month, the salary has been delayed. I am going to the factory now and will sit with the workers to resolve the issue,” he said.
Mohammad Abdul Barik, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Siddhirganj Police Station, said, “After receiving the information, we removed the workers from the highway and spoke with the factory owners to resolve the issue.
Additional police have been deployed in the factory area to maintain normal conditions.”
Selim Badsha, Inspector (Intelligence) of Industrial Police-4, Narayanganj Zone, said that workers blocked the highway demanding one month’s overdue salary.
“Later, they were persuaded to leave the highway. A meeting between worker representatives and the factory management is currently underway to resolve the matter,” he added.