Garment workers block road for 9 hours in Gazipur for arrears

Workers of two garment factories blocked the Dhaka-Joydebpur road in Gazipur city for nine hours since this morning demanding due salaries and arrears.

The blockade started around 9:00am and was withdrawn around 6:00pm, our Gazipur correspondent reports.

Following this, a tailback of four kilometres was created on Shibbari-Chandina road, causing sufferings to people who were travelling by vehicles.

According to witnesses and workers, the workers of factories – Style Craft and Young Ones Bangladesh which belong to one owner -- did not join work around 8:00am, blocked the road and started to stage demonstration.

One hour later, they took position on Chandana-Shibbari road in Lakshmipura area and put up a barricade there.

Rabiul Islam, driver of Gazipur Paribahan Limited, said his bus was stuck on the road around 11:00am and two hours later all passengers left the bus due to the blockade.

Gazipur Judge Court's lawyer Emdadul Haque said, he walked two kilometres and some of his colleagues and clients were late to the court.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Traffic Sergeant Sajedul Shahnewaj said they communicated with the factory workers and owners several times. Around 6:00pm, he expressed hope that the demonstrators would withdraw the blockade as they have talked to the workers.

Shams Almas Rahman, managing director of Style Craft and also a representative of both factories, assured the agitated workers of paying the due arrears and salaries in front of the police and deputy commissioner.

Gazipur Executive Magistrate Wasiuzzaman Chowdhury said a meeting was held between workers, owners and police which led to the assurance and thus workers withdrew the blockade.

Production of the factories will resume from Saturday, he added.