Three days of road blockades by workers bring Ashulia to a standstill

Thousands of workers, students and commuters have walked to their destinations due to traffic congestion

A busy highway in the industrial area of Ashulia in Dhaka’s Savar has been blocked due to protests by workers for three consecutive days. Hundreds of goods-laden trucks and vehicles have been stranded on the highway for over 50 hours, disrupting regular activity.

The workers of a readymade garments factory named Birds Group had launched the blockade on the Nabinagar-Baipail-Chandra highway around 9:30am on Monday demanding back pay, said Ashulia Police Station chief Abu Bakar Siddique.

The protesters took up positions there for the third straight day on Wednesday. The workers continue the protest as no assurances have been made regarding their outstanding wages.

Meanwhile, no effective measures have been taken by the administration so far in this regard.

The closure of the Nabinagar-Chandra highway for three days has caused immense suffering to regular commuters.

Long-haul buses, trucks, and numerous vehicles have been stuck along a few kilometres of the road, affecting traffic on the neighbouring Dhaka-Aricha highway as well.

The tailback stretched for three kilometres from Bishmail to Nabinagar on the Dhaka-Aricha highway and for around seven kilometres from Nabinagar to Sreepur on the Nabinagar-Chandra highway.

Thousands of workers, students and commuters have walked to their destinations due to the traffic congestion.

The protesting workers said they were supposed to be paid the service benefit and compensation on Monday from Birds Group, which had announced lay-offs. But the owner stopped communicating with the workers instead of paying the dues.

The authorities instead put up a notice at the entrance of the factory seeking another three months for the payment.

The workers immediately launched the protest by blocking the Nabinagar-Chandra highway after seeing the notice on Monday.

Seeking anonymity, a worker of the factory said: “Top administrative officers were here during the signing of an agreement regarding the back pay, but the owner breached the deal."

“Many of our workers had gone back to their village homes due to the lack of employment. They came back for their wages. But the owner is not making the payment now. All of us are disappointed. There is no scope to withdraw the protest until the dues are paid.”

Ashulia police chief Bakar said, “The workers have not eased their blockade on the Nabinagar-Chandra highway though 48 hours have passed. The administration high-ups are trying to solve the issue. They will visit the scene soon.”