Narayanganj garment workers lift blockade after 3.5 hours

Garment workers in Narayanganj withdrew their blockade of the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road after around three and a half hours on Monday, following assurances from local lawmaker Nazrul Islam Azad over their demand for a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.

Workers from factories in Shibu Market, Katherpul and nearby areas gathered at Shibu Market around 12:30pm and blocked both sides of the road, including the overpass.

The blockade caused severe traffic congestion, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded along an eight-kilometre stretch of the link road. Passengers and pedestrians faced difficulties, with many walking to reach their destinations while others remained stuck in vehicles for hours.

At around 4pm, Azad, the BNP's Dhaka divisional joint organising secretary and lawmaker from Narayanganj-2, arrived at the scene alongside leaders and activists of the BNP, Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal and Sramik Dal. Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Md Raihan Kabir, Superintendent of Police Md Habibur Rahman and law enforcement personnel also joined the effort to persuade the workers to leave the road.

Traffic movement gradually returned to normal after the workers withdrew.

The workers said their current wages were no longer sufficient to meet household expenses amid rising prices of essential commodities. They also complained that government employees' salaries had increased while garment workers' wages had remained unchanged for several years.

Hasanur Rahman, a worker, said they were struggling to survive on their current wages as the prices of daily necessities continued to rise.

He questioned why workers' wages should not increase when government employees' salaries had gone up, adding that they would continue their movement until the minimum wage was set at Tk 30,000.

Another worker, Nur Alam, said their existing wages were insufficient to cover living costs and demanded a minimum monthly salary of Tk 30,000.

Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Md Habibur Rahman said the government had already formed a wage board and there should be no reason for protests after its formation.

He said workers had staged scattered demonstrations in different parts of Narayanganj, but the law and order situation remained normal. He also alleged that vested groups were trying to provoke unrest, warning that such activities would not be tolerated.

Deputy Commissioner Md Raihan Kabir said the administration had assured the workers that a reasonable solution would be reached through discussions with all concerned parties.

He urged them to remain patient and said their legitimate demands would be conveyed to the government.

Addressing the workers, lawmaker Nazrul Islam Azad said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was supportive of all sections of society and that their problems could be resolved through dialogue. He urged the workers not to fall prey to provocation and assured them of support.

sks