Beximco workers block highway in Gazipur for fifth day demanding dues
Workers of Doreen Group are also demonstrating by blocking the highway, demanding the reopening of their factories which were closed after Beximco workers' protests grew intense
Demanding one month's overdue salary, workers of several Beximco Industrial Park factories are demonstrating for the fifth day by blocking the Chandra-Nabinagar highway at Chakraborty intersection in the Sarabo area of Kashimpur, Gazipur.
They resumed their blockade on the highway at around 10am today (19 November), after calling off the fourth day's protests late last night (18 November).
Meanwhile, workers of Doreen Group have also put a blockade nearby on the same highway, demanding immediate reopening of their factories – which were closed by owners as protests by Beximco workers grew intense.
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Workers of both groups have said they will immediately call off their demonstrations only after their demands are met.
Both blockades have halted vehicular movement on both sides of the highway, creating several kilometres long gridlocks and leaving commuters immensely suffering.
Many commuters are being forced to either walk or use auto-rickshaws to reach their destinations through alternative routes.
Vehicles are using the Dhaka-Tangail highway and Dhamarai-Kaliakair regional road to maintain road communication between Dhaka and the northern districts. Frustrated commuters and locals have urged the authorities to clear the road.
Confirming the developments, Kashimpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam said they were trying to convince the workers to move from the highway.
According to industrial police and workers, at least 41,000 people work in the apparel and ceramic factories at the Beximco Industrial Park.
Their demand for the October salaries initially began with protests last Thursday (14 November). After a break on Friday, the protests resumed again on Saturday, escalating it into a 10-hour highway blockade. Since then, the workers have been demonstrating by blocking the Chandra-Nabinagar highway every day.
Yesterday (18 November), they kept the highway blocked for 13 hours until 11pm, leaving thousands of commuters reeling in severe gridlocks on both sides.
Meanwhile, workers of three Doreen Group factories – Doreen Garments, Doreen Apparels, and Doreen Washing Plant – demonstrating on the highway near Zirani Bazar have said that their factories were announced closed yesterday without any notice. They said they will not withdraw their protest until the factories, which employ over 5,000 workers, are reopened.
Their demands include rehiring more than 100 workers who were sacked.
