Published : 01 Nov 2023, 12:28 PM
Updated : 01 Nov 2023, 12:33 PM
Garment workers have occupied the main roads of Dhaka’s Mirpur area, demanding a wage hike on the second day of a three-day nationwide blockade called by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
On Wednesday morning, thousands of workers marched towards the Mirpur-10 roundabout, armed with sticks. As the day progressed, the protesters fanned out to Mirpur-2, Mirpur-12, Mirpur-14, and Agargaon via Rokeya Sarani.
Some witnesses said that the protesters aggressively confronted commuters with wooden sticks and GI pipes in the nearby alleys, causing panic and prompting the closure of small shops.
The agitated workers did not allow media personnel to cover the protest. They charged at anyone who attempted to take photos.
Around 10 am, a group of police officers was observed sitting helplessly at the Mirpur-10 roundabout as the protesters created unrest in front of them.
Leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League, its youth affiliate Jubo League, and other affiliated organisations were present in the vicinity of the unrest.
A Jubo League leader of ward No. 94 said that BNP activists were trying to escalate the situation by taking part in the garment workers' protest.
Meanwhile, traffic in Mirpur came to a standstill due to the workers’ protest. Although some public transport vehicles ventured onto the roads in the morning, they later bypassed the Mirpur-10 roundabout to reach their destination.
A Bihanga Paribahan bus employee in Kazipara said that there was no parking space in the area. “The protesters almost vandalised my bus," he said.
