Garment workers in Gazipur's Tongi area staged a protest on Saturday, May 17, blocking the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway for nearly three hours over unpaid wages. The demonstration brought vehicular movement on the busy highway to a complete halt, causing immense suffering for commuters and transport operators.

The protest began around 9:00 AM in the Dattapara area, where employees of BHIS Apparels Limited took to the streets to demand payment of their overdue salaries. The workers, agitated over non-payment for the month of April, initially gathered at their factory premises before moving out to the main road and initiating the blockade.

According to police sources, more than 1,500 workers are employed at the BHIS Apparels Limited factory located in Dattapara. The delay in receiving their salaries had already triggered frustration among the workers, which culminated in Saturday's protest.

As the demonstration continued, traffic on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway was completely halted, affecting hundreds of vehicles and disrupting connectivity to and from the capital. Many travelers were left stranded on the road for hours, with public and private transport unable to proceed due to the blockade.

Inspector Ismail Hossain of the Gazipur Industrial Police-2 unit, responsible for overseeing the Tongi region, confirmed the protest and said the workers had blocked the highway specifically to press for their unpaid wages. He added that law enforcement and other security personnel worked to de-escalate the situation and engage in dialogue with the workers.

By approximately 12:00 PM, authorities managed to persuade the demonstrators to clear the road, restoring traffic flow along the vital transport artery. The protest ended peacefully, with no reports of violence or major confrontations.

Sources within the factory and the police indicated that workers had continued reporting to work daily despite not being paid for the previous month. However, with no sign of resolution, the growing dissatisfaction led to the decision to take collective action by blocking the highway.

The incident highlights ongoing challenges within Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) sector, where labor unrest frequently stems from wage disputes and irregular payments. Worker advocacy groups have long pointed out the need for stricter enforcement of labor laws and more robust mechanisms to ensure timely wage disbursements.

Though the protest at Tongi was called off following intervention, the underlying issue of wage arrears remains unresolved. Labor representatives have called on factory management and relevant authorities to address the demands of the workers immediately to avoid future disruptions.

Officials have not yet issued a formal statement on when the pending wages will be cleared. For now, the workers of BHIS Apparels return to their duties with uncertainty, while the threat of renewed protests lingers should their concerns remain unaddressed.