Dhaka-Tangail highway blocked as workers set Konabari police box on fire

Garment workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000 staged fresh demonstrations and blockaded the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur on Sunday morning, bringing traffic to a complete halt and setting fire to a traffic police box in Konabari.

Five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed to bring the situation under control.

The protests began around 8:30am in the Mouchak area of Kaliakair upazila, where workers blocked the highway. Soon afterwards, workers from factories in Safipur, Ratanpur and nearby areas started gathering on the highway.

Workers at several factories in Kaliakair did not join work on Sunday morning and took positions on the highway near Safipur Bazar to press their demand for higher wages.

As the protests spread, several nearby factories announced holidays. Workers carrying sticks took positions at different points along the highway, completely disrupting traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail route.

The blockade caused severe hardship for passengers travelling along the highway.

Meanwhile, protesters set fire to a traffic police box located on the highway in the Konabari area of Gazipur city. They reportedly removed equipment and other belongings from the box before setting those on fire as well.

Read More

Traffic disrupted as garment workers, police clash in Mirpur

Mohammad Shahidul Islam, traffic inspector of the Konabari zone, said police personnel had been on duty in the area since morning when workers demanding higher wages attacked and vandalised the traffic police box before setting it on fire.

Amzad Hossain, superintendent of police of Gazipur Industrial Police, said workers had resumed their demonstrations since morning over their demand for higher wages.

He said police were trying to bring the situation under control.