RMG workers lift Uttara blockade

Garment workers in the capital’s Uttara area withdrew their blockade of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway after nearly two hours on Thursday, following police action to disperse protesters demanding higher wages and other benefits.

Police used batons and sound grenades around 12:15pm to disperse the workers, who had blocked the highway for the fourth consecutive day.

Md Rezaul Karim, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Uttara Division, confirmed to the media that the workers had cleared the road, allowing traffic to return to normal.

Earlier, workers from six to seven garment factories blocked the highway in the Azampur and Rajlokkhi areas around 10am, demanding a minimum basic salary of Tk 30,000, a wage increase and other benefits.

The demonstration brought traffic to a standstill during office hours, leaving commuters stranded and forcing many to walk to their destinations.

The protesters said rising prices of essential commodities had made it increasingly difficult to support their families on their existing wages. They alleged that repeated appeals to the authorities had failed to resolve their grievances.

Rezaul Karim said police initially tried to persuade the protesters to leave the highway. While one group agreed to withdraw, another allegedly attempted to throw bricks and stones at police, prompting officers to disperse them.

The blockade ended after the police intervention, bringing an end to nearly two hours of traffic disruption in the area.

The workers have been demonstrating for four consecutive days over their wage demands and other employment-related grievances.