Workers of Doreen Fashion Limited and Beximco Industrial Park blocked the Chandra-Nabinagar road in Gazipur Metropolitan’s Zirani and Chakraborty areas, causing severe traffic disruption in both directions and immense hardship for passengers and drivers.
The blockade forced many commuters to seek alternative routes.
Speaking with factory workers and the industrial police revealed that Beximco Industrial Park workers began their protest at 9:30am on Tuesday (19 November) on the fourth consecutive day of demonstrations, demanding October’s wages.
Gathering in front of the factory in the morning, they marched towards the Chakraborty area on the Chandra-Nabinagar road, where they staged a blockade, resulting in severe traffic congestion in both directions.
One worker said, "Since 5 August, we have not received our salaries on time. We have yet to be paid for October, making it extremely difficult to run our households."
Another worker added, "Our protests will continue until our salaries are paid. We will return to work only when we receive our wages."
Meanwhile, due to the unrest among Beximco factory workers, several neighbouring factories, including Doreen Fashion Limited, have declared indefinite closures.
Workers of Doreen Fashion have been protesting since Monday for the factory to reopen.
Following demonstrations into the night, workers dispersed at 11pm but resumed their protests at 9:30am on Tuesday, blocking roads in the Zirani area.
One worker of Doreen Fashion, remarked, "Since 1 November, the factory has been indefinitely closed. Although it reopened last Sunday, it was closed again after noon. Yesterday, when workers attempted to return, they discovered it was once more declared closed. There have been no issues within our factory; why is it being kept closed? This is why we are protesting to have it reopened."
Kashimpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam said that, like previous days, workers have been blocking roads and protesting since morning, halting traffic along the affected road.
Police and industrial security forces remain deployed in the surrounding areas to maintain order.
