Traffic resumes on Dhaka-Tangail hwy

Traffic resumed on the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur after police fired sound grenades to disperse protesting garment workers who had blocked the road over wage demands.

Workers from several factories in the Mouchak area refused to join work and took to the highway around 8:30 AM on Thursday (November 12), bringing vehicular movement to a standstill. Protesters raised several demands, including a minimum wage, causing severe traffic gridlock and prolonged suffering for commuters.

Upon receiving the news, police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel rushed to the spot and initially attempted to pacify the demonstrators. As the situation escalated around 10:00 AM, law enforcers lobbed sound grenades and chased the protesters away.

Although the workers tried to regroup at another point on the highway, a second chase by security forces compelled them to clear the road entirely. Traffic returned to normal around 11:00 AM, though movement remained somewhat slow.

Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Mohammad Amjad Hossain said workers had blocked the highway at Mouchak in Kaliakair for about 30 to 40 minutes before being dispersed with sound grenades.

He added that workers at Palli Bidyut were persuaded to leave the road, while another attempt to stage a blockade near Jarun was also thwarted. Following the unrest, authorities declared holidays at eight to nine factories in the area.

-SA