Beximco workers block Chandra-Nabinagar road for 10hrs demanding Oct salary

Hundreds of workers of the Beximco Industrial Park, located in the Sarabo area under Gazipur's Kashimpur, blockaded the Chandra-Nabinagar road for over 10 hours today, demanding immediate payment of outstanding salary for October.

They started demonstrating in front of the main gate of the industrial park at about 8:30am. Later, they moved to the Chakraborty intersection on the Chandra-Nabinagar road a little before 10am, according to industrial police.

Officials of Gazipur metropolitan and industrial police, along with army personnel, were at the scene and tried to convince the workers to withdraw the blockade. The workers lifted the blockade at about 8:30pm, our correspondent reports from the spot.

The blockade halted vehicular movement on both sides of the road, creating gridlocks for at least 10-15 kilometres and leaving commuters suffering. Many were seen trying to find alternative routes and transport.

Workers and industrial police said for the past few months since the Awami League government fell in a mass uprising, workers of several factories inside the Beximco Industrial Park have had to hold demonstrations every month to get their wages.

"While almost all the surrounding factories have paid their workers for October, Beximco workers are yet to get their wages and allowances. That is why hundreds of workers took to the street today demanding their dues," said a worker.

Police and workers also said at least 41,000 workers who work at the Beximco Industrial Park used to receive their salaries between the 7th and 10th of every month. However, due to the absence of the owners — including Salman F Rahman — who was arrested on various charges following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, the workers are not getting their salaries on time.

Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Superintendent Md Sarwar Alam said Beximco authorities have pledged to pay the workers for October tomorrow.