Workers of at least 10 factories, including garment and pharmaceutical ones, staged demonstrations in different areas of Tongi, Kaliakoir and Sadar upazilas of Gazipur to press home their various demands including making their jobs permanent and raising salaries.
The protesters blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in the morning to press home their demands, resulting in severe traffic gridlocks on both sides of the highway.
Police and locals said male job seekers put up a barricade on the highway for around half an hour in front of the RMG factory, Interstoff Apparels Ltd, alleging that the factory authority decided not to recruit them after keeping them waiting for long.
Instead of male workers, the authority appointed only female workers, they alleged.
At one stage, the aggrieved job seekers pelted brickbats targeting the factory while appointed workers from inside the establishment resisted them.
Later, Army and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, allowing traffic movement.
On the other hand, workers of UniMed UniHealth Pharmaceuticals Ltd went on work abstention to press home 21-point demand including making their jobs permanent, stopping retrenchment, and increasing wages. They took position in front of its main entrance in Bikebari area under Sadar upazila in the morning.
Later, around 11am, the owner side met with the workers to resolve the issue.
Moreover, workers of Bata Shoe Company went on strike with several demands including an increase in wages.
Imran Ahmed, additional superintendent of Industrial Police-2 in Gazipur, said workers protested in 11 factories in different areas including Bhogra of Gazipur metro area demanding jobs, eliminating discrimination against women in jobs, increasing salaries and allowances and more.
Police and law enforcers were trying to bring the situation under control, he added.
