Workers from three factories in Gazipur staged protests on Monday, demanding higher wages and benefits, leading to blockades of the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways for nearly an hour.
Protests erupted at Golden Refits Garments Limited in Bhager Bazar, Cocola Food Products in Kaliakoir, and Seasons Dresses Limited in Tongi, with workers voicing concerns over issues ranging from attendance bonuses to unpaid wages.
At Golden Refits Garments, located in Gazipur’s Sadar upazila, workers refused to start their shifts, demanding improvements in attendance bonuses and pushing for 12 specific demands. To draw attention to their grievances, they blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in the morning.
The factory management eventually conceded to eight of the workers' demands, including increases in attendance bonuses, meal allowances, and night shift pay.
Suman Mia, an inspector with Gazipur’s Industrial Police, confirmed the blockade had caused significant traffic congestion. He noted that negotiations between management and workers are ongoing to address the remaining issues and prevent further disruptions.
Workers at Cocola Food Products in the Mouchak area protested outside the factory following management's decision to shut down operations indefinitely. The closure came after employees presented 12 demands, including attendance bonuses and annual leave.
Tensions escalated as some workers forcefully entered the facility and vandalized property. The protest spilled onto the Dhaka-Tangail highway, briefly blocking traffic. Joint forces arrived to disperse the protesters and arrested three individuals for inciting violence and damaging factory property.
Meanwhile, workers at Seasons Dresses Limited in Tongi took to the streets, demanding unpaid salaries for July and August. Starting as a small demonstration around 7 am, the protest grew into a full blockade of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway by 9:30 am.
The traffic halt continued for hours, causing widespread disruption. Mosharraf Hossain, Senior Assistant Superintendent of Gazipur’s Industrial Police, said that efforts are underway to open dialogue between the workers and the factory owners to resolve the wage issues.
As of 12:30 pm, traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway remained at a standstill.
