Garment Workers Block Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway Over Unpaid Wages in Gazipur

Employees of T & Z Apparel Ltd. demand payment of overdue wages, disrupting highway traffic as authorities attempt to resolve the issue.

Workers of T & Z Apparel Ltd. in Gazipur's Maleker Bari area staged a demonstration on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway on Saturday morning, blocking traffic and demanding payment of their overdue wages. The protest began around 9:30 am, bringing traffic to a standstill along the busy route. Due to the blockage, a long tailback extended several kilometers on both sides of the highway, affecting Mymensingh-Tangail and Dhaka-bound travelers.

The workers stated that wages for September and October have not been paid across six factories under T & Z Group, despite repeated pleas. Last Tuesday morning, workers gathered at the factory gate, and eventually, they took to the Columbia Mor section of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in protest. Police and military personnel arrived to control the situation.

Rabiul Hasan, a factory worker, expressed frustration: "Despite promises, we have not received our wages for the last two months, forcing us to protest on the road." Another worker, Nazma Akter, added, "The factory remained closed since April and reopened in September. Now, the management keeps delaying the payment of our overdue wages, leaving us no choice but to block the highway."

Local businessman Delwar Hossain commented, "For nearly a month, the factory workers have been blocking the highway over unpaid wages, but the management has yet to resolve the issue. Commuters and transport operators are facing severe difficulties due to these repeated blockages." In response, Additional Superintendent of Industrial Police Khalilur Rahman stated, "We are trying to resolve the wage issue through discussions with the factory management."