RMG workers block highway in Gazipur, vandalise factory

Readymade garment workers demanding higher wages and benefits blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur's Kaliakair on Tuesday, bringing traffic to a standstill in both directions.

The protest also saw vandalism at a local factory.

Workers from several garment factories began a work stoppage and took to the highway in the Mouchak area around 11am on October 27.

The blockade halted traffic on both sides of the busy highway, causing severe congestion across a stretch of around five kilometres. Hundreds of commuters, drivers and people travelling for urgent needs were left stranded.

According to eyewitnesses, some workers vandalised Sadma Textile, a factory in the Mouchak area, during the demonstration. They then continued their protest by blocking both lanes of the highway.

The disruption caused widespread inconvenience to passengers and transport operators as vehicles were unable to move through the affected area.

Kaliakair Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahidul Islam said police were in talks with the protesting workers to resolve the situation.

Members of the industrial police were also heading to the scene, he added.

The workers' demands for increased wages and benefits triggered the demonstration, though details of their specific demands were not immediately available.