'No assurances, clear our dues': TNZ Apparels workers in Gazipur block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway again

In a dramatic turn of events, workers of TNZ Apparels Limited Group again blocked off the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in the Maleker bari area of Gazipur this afternoon (11 November), just an hour after they had called off their protest, demanding unpaid wages for two months, that started 53 hours ago.

The readymade garment factory workers had left the street at around 2pm after Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman assured them that they would get one month's salary next Sunday, said Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nazir Ahmed.

However, an hour later, some 200-300 workers gathered at the same spot and set up the blockade again at around 3:15pm, saying they did not want assurances and declared they would not move from there until their dues were paid, said GMP DC (Traffic) Ibrahim Khan.

The withdrawal of the blockade had allowed many vehicles to cross that area in one hour, but as the protest resumed, vehicles on both sides of the highway were left stranded yet again.

Earlier, police official Nazir said Shafiquzzaman talked to the workers over the phone a little after 1pm and said the government will take responsibility and donate Tk6 crore by next Sunday to help pay their dues.

Gazipur Sadar upazila nirbahi officer, army officials, and officials of Gazipur metropolitan and industrial police were present at the time alongside protesting workers.

Secretary Shafiquzzaman invited a team of workers' representatives to Dhaka to sit with the authorities and hold discussions to reach an agreement on how and when their dues would be paid and their demands would be met.

"Your dues will be paid in phases. Discuss among yourselves and decide what to do. We are waiting," he said, urging the workers to withdraw the blockade.

The blockade – which started on Saturday morning (9 November) – had caused severe traffic disruptions in a 20-kilometre stretch on both sides of the highway over the past two days.

The protest virtually disconnected Dhaka from Tangail, Mymensingh and some other districts and left thousands of commuters on long-route buses, private vehicles and different types of cargo vehicles reeling in massive tailbacks.

Yesterday, at least 30 other factories were shut down to prevent further unrest. Due to the blockade, at least 20 factories located in the area announced a holiday today as well.

The protesting workers, many of whom stayed on the road the whole day and overnight in shifts, had refused to withdraw the blockade until they were paid two months' arrears. TNZ Apparels Limited Group operates six apparel factories in the city's Maleker Bari area.

The tailbacks forced many - travellers and locals - to walk to their destinations. Passengers and drivers of the vehicles stuck in the tailback this morning had expressed much anger at the government and authorities' lack of effective measures to resolve the crisis.

"Everything must have a limit. An important highway has been closed for three days. But the authorities are doing nothing. This is absolutely unacceptable," said Mymensingh-bound Kalim Uddin as he tried to calm down his child on his lap.

Truck driver Haider started for Chandpur from Mymensingh two days ago but has been stuck with his vehicle, which is carrying perishable items, on the highway for nearly 30 hours.

"I've been on this road for two days. I can't move my truck, I can't go anywhere. Most of the passengers got off the long-route buses they were on and walked to areas where they could find transport. However, the buses are still here. All of us are very frustrated," he said.

"The owner of that garments factory should be arrested immediately. People have lost their patience. How can one highway be closed for three days? The government can resolve this in an hour if they want," said another irritated commuter Shakhawat Hossain.

Due to the heavy pressure of vehicles, gridlocks had also spread on the roads connected to the highway since last night, as well after Gazipur police started diverting traffic to these alternative routes.

However, the highway's tailbacks did not get longer, as many vehicles have been avoiding this route after learning about the blockade.

This morning, hundreds of workers were seen maintaining their barricades in front of the Columbia Garments Limited factory in the Maleker Bari area. Many of them were seen wielding sticks. None of them wanted to talk to reporters about anything except their demand for unpaid arrears.

They also stopped Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Superintendent Sarwar Alam and Gazipur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Nazir Ahmed from talking to reporters separately, demanding they should make their remarks on megaphones.

According to police and workers, six factories under TNZ Apparels Limited Group have outstanding wages for September and October. The factories had been closed since April and, although operations resumed later, management started delaying payment for two months of wages.

They said despite several mediation efforts led by police and military officials following protests, the latest agreed-upon deadline of 7 November came and went without payment – forcing them to take to the streets yet again.

Attempts to get a statement from the TNZ Apparels management were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, workers of two more garment factories in Gazipur's Konabari and Baimail areas also demonstrated today by blocking local roads, pushing for several demands including payment of unpaid dues, bonuses, and allowances.