Due to ongoing protests by garment workers, one of the country's most vital and busy highways, the Nabinagar-Chandra route, has been completely blocked for 24 hours.
Workers from four factories under the Birds Group initiated the blockade yesterday morning, demanding the payment of their dues, resulting in severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway.
As of 9am on Tuesday (1 October), workers could be seen occupying the road in the Bypail area of Ashulia, Savar.
The blockade has caused a massive traffic jam extending approximately 13 kilometres, affecting both lanes.
On the Chandra-bound lane, a 3-kilometre stretch from Nabinagar to Bypail is gridlocked, while on the Dhaka-bound lane, congestion stretches 10 kilometres from Kabirpur to Bypail.
Since 9am on Monday (30 September), workers have obstructed both lanes of the highway at the Bypail point. Despite heavy rain late at night, they continued their protest.
As the day began and the industrial zone came alive with commuters, the gridlock worsened.
Although some vehicles took alternate routes yesterday, those expecting normal traffic this morning were caught in the worsening congestion.
This has also led to a traffic jam on the Dhaka-Aricha highway, with the Aricha-bound lane facing a 10-kilometre tailback from Nabinagar to Savar, and the Dhaka-bound lane experiencing a 2-kilometre jam from Nabinagar to the Gonoshasthaya Kendra.
It has been reported that around 2,000 disgruntled workers from four factories under the Birds Group—Birds RNR Fashions Limited, Birds Garments, Birds Fedorex, and Birds A & Z Limited—blocked the highway following the management's announcement of a closure without settling their dues.
Babu, a protesting worker from Birds Group, stated: "All dues were to be cleared by 30 September. However, instead of paying, they posted a notice that the dues would be paid after three months. How can the management take such a decision without consulting us? They claim no wages are pending, except for some officials, but our service benefits, holiday pay, and any other outstanding payments were promised to be settled by 30 September."
He further added, "Suddenly, they shut down a running factory by posting a lay-off notice. Those with more than a year of service are promised compensation, but what about those who have worked for less than a year? Do they not suffer losses?"
The Birds Group factories are located in the Burir Bazar area of Bypail. These factories had initially announced a lay-off on 28 August. When the workers refused to accept the lay-off, the management subsequently closed the factories under Section 124 (A) of the labour laws.
Workers have revealed that the management had promised to clear the dues on Monday (30 September).
However, when the workers arrived at the factory that morning, they found a notice posted on the gate extending the payment deadline by three months.
The notice had been issued on Sunday (29 September), by the Birds Group.
Savar Highway Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ayub Ali commented on the situation: "It has been the same since yesterday in Bypail—traffic is completely blocked, and there are no alternative routes. Even if we take action, it might lead to other problems. What can we do?"
