Staff Reporter :
Several hundred garment workers staged a protest on Monday morning, blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways in Gazipur, demanding their unpaid wages.
Over 300 workers from Mim Alema Design Garments in the Bhogra area took to the streets, expressing frustration over non-payment of their dues. The demonstration caused significant disruption to traffic as workers occupied the highways, throwing brickbats at nearby factory premises.
As a result of the protest, authorities declared a holiday in multiple factories, including Roya Fashion Limited, Mastrade International Garments Limited, Colossus Apparel Limited, Rose Sweater Limited, Square Fashion Limited, and Fardar Fashion Limited. Factory officials took the decision to prevent further escalation of unrest among the workforce.
Gazipur Industrial Area Police Superintendent AKM Zahirul Islam stated that law enforcement officials promptly intervened, removing the protesters from the roads within half an hour, restoring normal traffic flow.
Despite efforts to obtain comments from Mim Alema Design Garments management regarding the allegations of unpaid wages, no response was available at the time of reporting.
Meanwhile, workers insist that their salaries have not been properly disbursed, leading to the demonstration. Labor rights groups have raised concerns over the recurring issue of wage delays in the garment sector, urging factory owners to ensure timely payments to avoid such disruptions in the future.
The protest underscores the ongoing tensions between garment workers and factory authorities, highlighting the financial struggles faced by laborers in Bangladesh’s key export industry.
