Workers of an ice cream factory in Mymensingh's Bhaluka upazila staged a protest, blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway for nearly an hour on Sunday morning.
The demonstration, which took place where the factory is located near Meherabari area, demanded their overdue wages, night-shift allowances and other benefits.
According to local sources, approximately 200 to 250 workers are employed at the factory. The protesters claimed they had not received their partial wages for October, along with full wages for November and December, as well as unpaid night-shift allowances for 16 months and other benefits for 14 months.
Starting at 9 AM, the workers left their posts and gathered outside the factory before moving to the nearby highway. The blockade caused significant traffic congestion on both sides of the highway, inconveniencing travelers.
Local authorities, including officials from the Bhaluka Model Police Station, Highway Police, and Industrial Police, intervened and mediated discussions between the workers and the factory management. Following assurances that the overdue wages would be cleared by December 31, the workers agreed to end their protest and clear the highway.
Inspector Jahangir Alam of Bharadoba Highway Police confirmed the incident, saying, "Around 200 workers took to the highway to demand their overdue payments. The situation was brought under control after assurances from the factory management."
