Traffic resumes on Dhaka-Ctg highway after workers stage demo for 3.5 hours
The protest was sparked by growing discontent among the workers, with tensions escalating following the death of a worker on 10 October
Traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway resumed 3.5 hours after workers staged a protest this morning (16 October) blocking the highway over 21 demands.
The blockade stopped after the workers were assured that their demands would be addressed.
According to sources, discussions between the factory management and the workers are ongoing inside the factory, with the presence of military personnel, police, and administrative officials mediating the talks.
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After several rounds of discussions, the workers cleared the highway at around 11:30am.
Earlier, more than a thousand workers from JMI Industrial Park have blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram highway this morning, demanding the fulfilment of 21 demands, leading to a severe traffic standstill.
The protest, which began at around 8am today, saw workers gathering in front of the company instead of reporting to work.
Company officials who attempted to calm the situation were met with hostility from the protestors, with several of them being chased away.
Regarding the situation, Officer-in-Charge of Gazaria Police Station, Md Mahbubur Rahman, said, "As soon as we received the news, we rushed to the scene. We are trying to calm the situation by speaking with both the workers and the company.
The protest was sparked by growing discontent among the workers, with tensions escalating following the death of a worker on 10 October, an incident the workers attribute to company negligence.
According to the workers, despite a government-declared holiday, the factory was kept open, and when the worker fell ill, he was denied leave and mistreated. Instead of being taken to the hospital promptly, he was left lying on the floor and eventually died without receiving medical attention.
This event outraged the workers, leading them to prepare for a protest.
One of the protesting workers, Swapan Mia, said, "The way the company treats us is inhumane. They don't follow any government regulations. We are forced to work overtime. If we fall sick, we aren't allowed to go to the hospital. Due to many such reasons, we have taken to the streets with 21 demands."
Another protestor, Dipak Sarkar, added, "We are given specific tasks to complete within a set time frame. If we fail to meet the quota, our pay is deducted. We don't even get holidays during public holidays or Eid. We don't know if other companies have such inhumane practices. Today's protest is the result of long-held frustrations."
Protestor Lipi Akter stated, "We aren't allowed to use the restroom after lunch hours. In case of emergencies, we can't even speak with our families during office hours. Workers face discrimination in terms of promotions, salary increments, and various other issues. All these factors have led to today's protest."
The OC Md Mahbubur Rahman said, "I've assured the workers that I will talk to the company on their behalf to ensure their legitimate demands are met. However, they are not listening to me," he added.
When contacted, Masum Mia, the manager of the company, said, "I'm not in a position to speak at the moment. Several of our officials were assaulted when they tried to talk to the workers. We are trying to bring the situation under control."
Meanwhile, at 9:30am, Gazaria Upazila Executive Officer Kohinoor Akter arrived at the scene and urged the workers to clear the highway.
He assured them that their demands would be addressed.
Due to the highway blockade, severe traffic congestion has developed. According to highway police, the blockade has caused a 10-kilometre traffic jam in the Bazar area of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.
