Workers from JMS Garments Ltd, located in the Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ), have once again halted traffic on the busy Airport Road, demanding unpaid wages and Eid bonuses.
The protest began around 11:00 am when over 500 workers gathered at the CEPZ Intersection under the EPZ police station, insisting on the immediate disbursement of their dues. Chittagong Industrial Police Superintendent Mohammad Solaiman reported that the workers made it clear they would not vacate the road until their demands were met. The blockade continued until at least 3:15 PM, causing significant disruptions to traffic between the port and Patenga.
Authorities, including local police, Industrial Police, and military personnel, attempted to negotiate with the demonstrators, but the workers remained firm in their demands for payment today. Superintendent Solaiman stated that the factory owner, currently in Dhaka, has applied for a loan from Exim Bank, which could potentially resolve the payment issue by tomorrow. However, workers insisted on immediate payment, making it clear that they would not leave the road until their needs were addressed.
The unrest follows a layoff announcement made by JMS Garments on 4th March, citing a lack of work orders and banking issues. According to the Bangladesh EPZ Labor Act of 2019, wages for February were due on 20th March, and Eid bonuses were expected by 23rd March. Neither payment was made on the scheduled dates, and the factory management had communicated a new payment date of 25th March, which the workers rejected.
Previously, on 22nd March, around 600 workers had staged a protest outside the factory, leading to a similar blockade that lasted nearly three hours. They temporarily withdrew after receiving assurances from the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) that a definitive decision would be made by 24th March.
However, when workers returned to the factory at 10:00 am, they found it locked, prompting them to resume their protest on Airport Road, which led to severe traffic congestion and heightened tensions in the area. Efforts by authorities to resolve the situation peacefully are ongoing.
