Garment workers shut down Dhaka-Mymensingh highway over unpaid wages

Garment workers in Tongi, Gazipur, blocked both sides of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway early Tuesday, protesting the sudden closure of their factory and demanding their overdue wages. 

The demonstration began around 7 a.m. in the Hossain Market area, causing massive traffic disruptions. 

The protest erupted after workers discovered that B.H.I.S. Apparels Limited, where they are employed, had been shut down without warning.

According to sources, the factory employs nearly 1,300 workers who were expecting their February salaries to be paid on Monday. 

Workers had waited all day at the factory, hoping for a resolution. 

However, by the afternoon, the factory owners left the premises secretly without making any decision, leaving the workers in uncertainty.

Disappointed, the workers returned home, only to find out on Tuesday morning that the factory was closed indefinitely. 

A notice posted at the main gate declared the indefinite closure, which ignited the protest.

In frustration, the workers blocked the busy highway, which is one of the main routes connecting Dhaka and Mymensingh, demanding justice and calling for immediate payment of their wages.

One of the workers, Masud, voiced his concerns, “Eid is just a few days away. Closing the factory without paying our wages is like destroying our lives. We are completely lost—how will we pay our rent, clear the dues at the stores? We don’t know what to do. We appeal to the nation for fair justice and help.”

Another worker, Sharmin Akter, expressed her anger, saying, “We waited for hours at the factory yesterday to receive our wages. But the owners fled like thieves without giving any decision. They didn’t make any effort to solve our problems.”

The protest not only paralyzed traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway but also caused other factories in the area to shut down. 

The impact of the demonstration has been significant, with commuters facing severe delays and difficulties due to the blockade.

Responding to the situation, AKM Zahirul Islam, Superintendent of Police for Gazipur Industrial Police-2, said, “The workers are protesting by blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. We are trying to resolve the issue.”

As of now, efforts to negotiate with the workers and resolve the matter are underway, but the frustration among the workers remains high, especially with the upcoming Eid holiday. 

The highway blockade has caused widespread traffic jams, creating further problems for the public.