Over 50 vehicles, shops vandalised in Gazipur during highway blockade

More than 50 vehicles and shops were vandalised during the workers' blockade in Gazipur's Kaliakair for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.

The violence broke out around 8:30AM, when the workers from several garment factories thronged on the highway in the Palli Bidyut and Mouchak areas and blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway. During the protest, several vehicles and shops came under attack.

Tensions escalated when police and local BNP activists chased the protesting workers in an attempt to bring the situation under control.

Fearing further deterioration of the situation, factory authorities in Mouchak, Palli Bidyut, Shafipur, Harinhati and adjoining industrial areas declared fresh closures.

The blockade brought traffic to a complete halt along nearly 10 kilometres of the Dhaka-Tangail highway, causing severe suffering for commuters and transport workers. Panic also spread across nearby residential areas.

Kaliakair Police Station OC Shahidul Islam said the workers began blocking the highway in the morning. When police reached the scene to control the situation, a chase and counter-chase took place, during which workers vandalised several vehicles.

He added that members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and other law enforcement agencies were deployed at the scene to maintain order.