Gazipur witnessed a surge of unrest on Monday (3 March) morning as garment workers took to the streets in protest following the tragic suicide of a female colleague.
The demonstrators blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway near the Bhogra Bypass area and set a factory vehicle ablaze, causing severe disruption to traffic.
The deceased, identified as 30-year-old Afsana Akter Laboni from Nandail, Mymensingh, had been employed at Panorama Apparels Ltd. Reports indicate that she jumped to her death from the factory roof on Sunday (2 March), allegedly following a dispute with her husband.
However, aggrieved workers claim she took her own life due to being denied leave.
Tensions escalated around 8am on Monday when factory workers staged a demonstration, eventually blocking the highway.
In a show of defiance, they dragged a vehicle from inside the factory premises and set it alight on the road, further intensifying the turmoil.
Superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police Zahirul Islam stated that while initial reports suggested domestic issues as the cause of suicide, workers later alleged that she had been refused leave.
"She worked the entire day on Sunday without raising any complaints. However, this morning, workers suddenly claimed she was denied leave and took to the streets, disrupting operations across several factories," he said.
In response to the protests, at least six to seven factories in the vicinity declared an abrupt closure for the day.
As the situation gradually de-escalated, traffic on the highway resumed normalcy after several hours of disruption.
