Traffic came to a standstill in Bijoynagar on Monday afternoon as workers from several garment factories occupied the Kakrail-Paltan road, demanding overdue wages and other benefits. The protesters, who are employees of TNZ Apparels Ltd, Apparel Plus Eco Ltd, Roar Fashion Ltd, Style Craft Garments, and DIRD Composite Textile Ltd, initially gathered for a sit-in demonstration outside the Srom Bhaban but escalated their protest to the road after their demands went unaddressed.
The workers called for a one-hour ultimatum at approximately 3:45 pm, warning that they would block the road if their issues were not resolved. With their grievances still unmet, they proceeded to sit in the middle of the road, halting traffic in both directions.
Their demands included overdue salaries, Eid bonuses, maternity leave payments, service benefits, and compensation for their deceased colleague, Ramprasad Singh. Workers expressed frustration over the lack of action from factory owners, who they claim disappeared ahead of the scheduled salary payments.
In an alarming turn of events, Ramprasad Singh, 40, fell ill and passed away during the demonstration, prompting protesters to confine labour officials in response to his death. The blockade was lifted around 9:45 pm after the administration provided assurances to address their demands. The officials had been held for seven hours before their release.
A Government meeting intended to address these labor issues was scheduled for 11 am on Monday but reportedly did not take place, further fueling the unrest among the workers.
