Traffic returns to normal as RMG workers leave Dhaka-Tangail highway

Vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur returned to normal on Thursday after police fired sound grenades to disperse garment workers who had blocked the road demanding higher wages and other benefits.

Workers from several factories took to the highway in the Mouchak area around 8:30am without joining their workplaces, bringing traffic to a halt and causing severe congestion.

The workers staged demonstrations demanding the implementation of the minimum wage and fulfilment of several other demands, disrupting vehicular movement on the busy highway.

On receiving information, police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel rushed to the spot and initially tried to persuade the workers to leave the road peacefully.

At one stage, police fired sound grenades around 10:00am and chased the protesters to disperse them. The workers then regrouped at another section of the highway.

Law enforcement personnel launched another drive to clear the road, eventually forcing the protesters to leave the highway.

Vehicular movement resumed around 11:00am, although traffic remained somewhat slow.

Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Mohammad Amzad Hossain said workers had blocked the highway in the Mouchak area of Kaliakair in the morning, halting traffic for around 30 to 40 minutes.

"Police were eventually compelled to fire sound grenades to disperse them," he said.

He added that workers of Palli Bidyut had also taken to the highway, while workers in the Jarun area attempted to gather on the road.

"Police persuaded them to leave the road. Overall, authorities declared holidays at eight to nine factories following the unrest," he said.