For the second consecutive day, workers of Lenny Fashions and Lenny Apparels have blocked the Nabinagar-Chandra Highway in Ashulia, demanding the payment of their long-overdue salaries and benefits on Wednesday (27 November).
The protest has also spread to the main gate of the old section of the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), where workers have stationed themselves.
In an attempt to resolve the crisis, DEPZ officials are holding discussions with representatives of the protesting workers.
According to several demonstrators, the two factories were abruptly shut down four years ago, leaving wages unpaid.
Subsequently, one of the factories was sold off by the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), and while the proceeds from the sale were deposited in a bank, the workers’ dues remain unsettled.
Yesterday morning, workers of both factories gathered in front of DEPZ to press for their claims. They later blocked the Nabinagar-Chandra Highway, staging protests until 9pm.
After clearing the road, the protesters moved to the main gate of the old DEPZ area, where they spent the night in demonstration.
This morning, more workers joined the protest, intensifying the movement. They positioned themselves on the highway and at the gate, preventing other DEPZ workers from entering their workplaces. As a result, many workers scheduled for shifts were forced to return home.
Worker Marina Akhter voiced her frustration, saying, "We have endured so much since yesterday, yet no solution has been reached. We were told that payments would be made by 30 November. If that promise had been kept, this chaos could have been avoided. Now we are determined not to leave without our dues. We will only go home once we receive our money."
Another worker, Firoz Ahmed, added, "The factory was suddenly shut down four years ago without clearing our dues. We have been waiting too long, and we will continue our protests until we are paid what we are owed."
Superintendent of Police (SP) Sarwar Alam of Ashulia Industrial Police-1 stated, "The DEPZ authorities are meeting with worker representatives to resolve the issue. We are also trying to pacify the protesters. In the meantime, vehicles are being redirected to alternative routes due to the road blockade."
BEPZA Executive Director (Public Relations) Anwar Parvez explained, "We are trying to make the workers understand the complexities of the process. While we empathise with their concerns, it is not possible to disburse their dues immediately. The workers are being briefed about the factory sale procedure, the legal formalities, and the steps required to settle the unpaid salaries."
