A tragic road accident in Dhaka`s Banani area early Monday morning claimed the life of a female garment worker and left one of her colleagues injured, triggering a protest that led to significant traffic disruptions in the city.
The accident occurred around 6:00 AM at the U-turn near Chairman Bari, a heavily congested intersection in the capital.
The police have yet to identify the deceased or the injured worker.
However, soon after the incident, hundreds of garment workers took to the streets in protest.
They blocked both sides of Airport Road, bringing traffic to a halt, and also shut down the exit ramp of the Elevated Expressway at Banani.
This blockage caused severe traffic congestion not only in Banani but also on the entire expressway and surrounding areas.
Eyewitnesses reported that the protesting workers were demanding justice for the victim. After hearing about the accident, they gathered at the scene and began blocking the road, preventing vehicles from moving.
The road blockade extended to both sides of the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, one of the city’s busiest routes, halting traffic for several hours.
This caused massive delays for commuters trying to enter or exit Banani, as well as vehicles traveling on the expressway.
Traffic authorities said the impact on commuters was immense, as vehicles were unable to exit the expressway at Banani, causing backups on both the expressway and nearby roads.
The Gulshan Traffic Department confirmed that the accident took place around 6:00 AM but said they were still investigating which vehicle was responsible for the woman’s death.
Authorities are also working to restore the traffic situation, with police actively trying to move the protesters off the streets.
Russel Sarwar, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Banani Police Station, spoke to Samakal about the situation.
"The garment workers have blocked the road since the morning, which has led to severe traffic jams. We are trying to convince them to clear the road," he said.
He also mentioned that additional police personnel had been deployed to prevent any unwanted incidents or escalation during the protest.
The accident has sparked frustration among garment workers, a large and often underpaid section of the workforce in Bangladesh.
Such incidents raise concerns about the safety of workers commuting to and from their jobs, and this protest is a reflection of growing dissatisfaction with the lack of accountability for road accidents.
The ongoing blockade serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerable position these workers find themselves in, both on the roads and within the labor force.
Efforts to calm the protesters are ongoing, with the police emphasizing that they are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible while maintaining public safety.
As of now, traffic in and around Banani remains paralyzed.
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