RMG workers block Dhaka-Chattogram highway demanding arrears
The blockade that lasted for four hours triggered traffic congestions for several kilometres
A section of garment workers staged a protest by blocking the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway in the Belashahar area under Chandina upazila of Cumilla for around four hours on Tuesday, demanding payment of their "three months' arrears and allowances."
The workers of Denim Processing Plant blocked the highway at around 9:00am that triggered a gridlock, snarling traffic for several kilometres.
Shahadat Hossain, a worker at the garment factory, told The Business Standard, "We were compelled to take to the streets after our attempts to persuade the authorities regarding the overdue payments proved futile."
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Ahmed Sanjur Morshed, the officer-in-charge of Chandina Police Station, said, "The workers dispersed from the highway after the police assured them that their demands would be addressed upon contacting the authorities."
Zahangir Alam, chief executive officer of Denim Processing Plant, told TBS that it is not true that the workers have overdue payments for three months.
"Actually there was a confusion over the new wage structure and our mid-level management failed to address the issue properly. Some local people also provoked them (workers) to create unrest. After I went to the spot, the situation calmed down and the workers returned to the factory units," he said.
According to the company's website, 2,100 workers are employed at 19 production units of Denim Processing Plant at Chandina.
