NN Online:
Garment workers in Gazipur held protests on Thursday, blocking the heavily trafficked Chandra-Nabinagar Highway to demand compensation for injured colleagues, better safety measures, and unpaid wages.
The protest was triggered by an accident on Wednesday near the “That’s It knitwear” factory of the Hamim Group in Zirani. Three factory workers were injured when a bus ran them over. In response, workers took to the streets early Thursday morning, demanding compensation for the injured, construction of a flyover in the area to prevent future accidents, and resolution of ongoing mismanagement issues in the factory.
These demands are part of a broader 11-point charter presented by the workers.
Meanwhile, workers from BEXIMCO Industrial Park staged a separate demonstration on the same highway, demanding payment of one month’s overdue wages. This marks the sixth consecutive day of protests by these employees.
The highway blockade caused significant hardship for commuters and local residents. Many vehicles were forced to take the Dhaka-Tangail Highway and the Dhamrai-Kaliakair regional road as alternatives. Despite these routes being available, the disruption created congestion across the area.
Industrial police and army personnel arrived at the scenes to mediate and persuade workers to vacate the highways. Efforts to restore normal traffic flow were ongoing as of Thursday afternoon.
