Workers protest in Gazipur, block Dhaka-M’singh Highway

Workers block Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Gazipur.

Gazipur, July 27 - Workers of a ceramics factory staged a protest and blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila on Sunday morning, demanding arrears and other benefits.

The blockade, led by several hundred workers of RAK Ceramics Ltd, was put in Jaina Bazar area around 7:00am.

It created a long tailback on both sides of the highway, causing immense suffering to commuters travelling to different destinations.

Tensions escalated when members of law enforcement agencies attempted to clear the road.

A chase and counter-chase ensued between the police and protesting workers.

To disperse the demonstrators, police fired teargas shells and sound grenades.

According to police and locals, the factory workers began their protests early in the morning, voicing their demands, including payment of outstanding wages and allowances.

After around two hours of blockade, security forces intervened in an effort to remove the workers from the highway, leading to clashes.

Officer-in-charge of Sreepur Police Station Mohammad Abdul Barik said police from the local station, along with a large number of industrial police personnel, arrived at the scene and tried to convince the workers to leave peacefully.

“But the workers started throwing brick chips at the police. To bring the situation under control, teargas shells and sound grenades were used,” he said.

At the time of filing this report at 9:20am, chase and counter-chase between police and workers was going on. - UNB