Gazipur RMG workers block highways for arrears
Police cleared the highways of the blockaders and assured them of discussion with the authorities
Workers of several readymade garment (RMG) factories in Gazipur blocked the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka Mymensingh Highways on Saturday, demanding their due salaries and allowances.
Gazipur Industrial Police Inspector Rezaul Karim said the workers alleged that the authorities closed Hechang BD Limited garment factory at Baroipara of Kaliakair in Gazipur in November without paying the workers' salaries and allowances for October and November.
The factory was opened on Saturday and the authorities put up a notice at the gate announcing that the arrears would be paid on May 7.
The workers started to gather at the factory from Saturday morning but finding none of the authorities, they began protesting, demanding their arrears and opening of the factory.
At one stage, the workers blocked Dhaka-Tangail highway adjacent to the factory, leaving vehicles stuck on both sides.
Informed, police cleared the road of the blockaders and assured them of discussion with the factory authorities.
In another incident, workers of the ATS Sweater factory at Jainabazar (Lohai Bazar) of Sreepur in the district held demonstrations at the factory in morning, demanding payment of arrears, said the inspector of Gazipur Industrial Police.
They later blocked Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway adjacent to the factory, halting the traffic.
Police later removed the workers assuring of talks with the factory authorities. The workers' representatives afterwards had a meeting with the authorities, who announced that the workers' salaries including those for March would be paid on May 8.
On the same day, workers of Zaman Fashion Garment Factory at Tengra Kewa Bazar of the same upazila staged a protest at the factory demanding payment of their salaries and allowances.
In the face of workers' protest, the factory authorities promised to pay the workers' wages soon and the workers left the factory area.
Most of the factories in Gazipur have been closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. However, some factories are open for emergency services. The district was declared locked down on April 11.
