In Bangladesh, vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur district has been suspended since Saturday morning as Ready-Made Garment (RMG) workers from various factories blocked the highway, demanding payment for over three months of unpaid wages.
The officer-in-charge of the local police told the media that workers from different garment factories have staged demonstrations over the last several days, demanding wages owed for the past three months. As salaries remain unpaid, workers once again blocked the highway this morning, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.
The blockade resulted in heavy traffic congestion, extending for several kilometers in both directions—toward Mymensingh, Tangail, and Dhaka.
Local residents and regular highway users expressed frustration, noting that frequent roadblocks due to such protests severely disrupt the movement of daily commuters, as well as the shipment of goods and services across the region.
Bangladesh’s RMG sector workers have faced numerous issues recently. Their demands include equal opportunities for men and women, increased wages, improved benefits, and reduced workloads. Persistent delays in wage payments, alleged blacklisting of dismissed workers, and unresolved unionization issues have further fueled anger and dissatisfaction among workers.
By – Navalsang Parmar (Dhaka)