Garment workers block highway in Gazipur over pre-Eid layoffs

The protest brings traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway to a halt amid the Eid travel rush

Hundreds of laid-off garment workers have blocked the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Gazipur’s Konabari in protest, disrupting the journeys of homebound travellers ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

The demonstration on Saturday morning was led by workers of Standard Stitches Ltd Woven Unit in the Baimail area, who had lost their jobs.

The protest halted traffic for about 30 minutes before police intervened and cleared the highway, said Md Nazrul Islam, chief of Konabari Police Station under Gazipur Metropolitan Police.

According to police and locals, the protest began inside the factory premises but later spilled onto the highway.

The blockade resulted in long tailbacks, affecting vehicles carrying Eid travellers.

Law-enforcing agencies, including Industrial Police and army personnel, moved in swiftly to bring the situation under control.

“Over 100 workers were laid off from the factory. Upon hearing the news, they took to the streets in protest,” said AKM Zahurul Islam, superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police.

“Local and Industrial Police, along with army personnel, managed to disperse them and restore normalcy on the highway,” he added.