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Published : 09 Feb 2026, 08:40 PM
Several female workers of a ready-made garment factory have been injured after police swooped on a protest in Gazipur, which blocked the highway demanding unpaid wages.
Police used stun grenades to disperse the protesters from the highway, witnesses said.
The protest disrupted traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded and causing hardship for commuters.
Inspector (Tongi Zone) Azad Rahman of the Gazipur Industrial Police confirmed the use of stun grenades to remove workers of Unique Washing and Unique Design from the highway. However, he said he was unaware of any injuries caused by police action.
Mukta, a factory worker who gave only one name, said staff had not been paid on time and were still waiting for their January wages.
She said the factory was due to close for four days from Tuesday because of the election, prompting workers to protest.
She said employees blocked the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway at around 1pm on Monday after management failed to pay their salaries.
Another worker, Raisul Islam Dana, said: “How can we return home on leave empty-handed?”
Hasi Begum alleged that police used force to disperse the protesters. “They threw grenades and fired shots, injuring several workers, including Tamanna and Rina Morshed,” she said.
Factory Administrative Officer Md Mizanur Rahman said the company was facing financial strain. About Tk 70 million was needed to pay nearly 2,000 workers, but only Tk 7 million was available.
“Paying workers before the four-day election leave is simply impossible,” he said.
The blockade caused major disruption, forcing many commuters to walk as vehicles were stranded on the highway.
Md Harun Or Rashid, a lecturer travelling to Tongi for election duty, said he and a colleague were forced to abandon their bus and continue by autorickshaw after hours of congestion.
Police Inspector Azad Rahman said officers initially persuaded workers to return to the factory, but they later came back and blocked the road again. He confirmed that stun grenades were used at about 4pm to disperse the crowd.
