Dhaka-Tangail highway blocked for 2nd day

Readymade garment workers in Shafipur of Kaliakair upazila in Gazipur continued their protest for the second consecutive day on Sunday for a Tk 30,000 minimum monthly wage, blocking the Dhaka-Tangail highway and disrupting traffic in both directions from the morning.

Around 8:30AM, a group of workers took to the street after initially joining work. Later, workers from several nearby factories joined with them, prompting authorities to declare holidays at around eight to 10 factories.

The large gathering brought traffic on both sides of the highway to a standstill, leaving commuters, long-distance passengers and other travellers stranded for hours. The presence of sticks among protesters also heightened tension in the area.

Workers' discontent over wages has persisted across industrial areas in Gazipur, with protests and work stoppages reported in Konabari, Mouchak and Shafipur over the past two weeks, according to local sources. Although the government has decided to form a new wage board to consider workers' demands for higher wages, protests have continued on the ground.

Earlier on Saturday noon, the blockade began and continued until night. Traffic resumed after the protesters withdrew, but they returned to the highway on Sunday morning, triggering a fresh disruption for the second consecutive day.

Kaliakair Police Station OC Shahidul Islam said workers had been occupying the highway since morning, halting traffic along the busy route.