Ready-made garment workers of TNZ Apparels Limited have kept the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway blocked for over 24 hours due to unpaid wages.

The prolonged road blockade which began yesterday morning (November 9) caused traffic jams over 20 kilometers long on both sides of the highway as of the time of filing this report at 9am this morning (November 10).

“The workers’ protest continued throughout the night. They have now been occupying their positions on the highway and blocking it for almost 24 hours. As a result, a traffic jam of about 20 km long has formed on both sides of the highway from Tongi to Rajendrapur,” Ibrahim Khan, deputy commissioner of police (traffic) of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), said this morning.

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He said these traffic jams extended beyond the Konabari portion of the Dhaka-Tangail highway.

“Commuters stuck in traffic jams on the highway are now using alternative routes,” Ibrahim added.

The official Facebook page of the Gazipur Metropolitan Police posted a traffic update, advising commuters to use alternative routes due to the “road blockade on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways, initiated by workers of the textile demanding unpaid wages and compensation before Columbia Garments. is still in progress at 7 a.m.

Garment workers of TNZ Apparels Limited continue to block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for 24 hours over unpaid wages. This photo was taken on Sunday November 10, 2024. Photo: TBS

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Garment workers of TNZ Apparels Limited continue to block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for 24 hours over unpaid wages. This photo was taken on Sunday November 10, 2024. Photo: TBS

Earlier last night, it was reported that workers had lifted the blockade at 10 p.m. However, Nazir Ahmed, deputy commissioner of GMP, said this was not the case.

“We held at least 12 rounds of discussions with the workers and assured them that we would arrange payment of their unpaid salaries after discussing it with the employer. They first said they would lift the blockade at 2 p.m. yesterday, then they changed it to 5 p.m., and finally to 10 p.m. But they did not lift the blockade,” he said.

“They do not listen to anyone and are not willing to accept any guarantee of payment,” Nazir added.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses reported seeing foreigners, armed with sticks, joining the protesting workers this morning.

Most of the vehicles still stuck in the long line are carrying goods. These vehicles, which left yesterday evening to reach their destination, were unable to advance further due to traffic jams. Among the stranded goods vehicles, there are also those transporting perishable goods.

“We left Jainabazar with passengers towards Joydebpur Chowrasta this morning. After passing through several small traffic jams, the bus finally got stuck in a major traffic jam near Bhawal National Park in Rajendrapur,” Asif said, an assistant to Taqwa Paribahan.

Meanwhile, fewer long-distance vehicles are traveling on the highway due to traffic jams caused by the workers’ protest. Although local transport still operates over short distances, passengers have complained about having to pay additional fares.

Abdul Kadir, a man in his 60s, was waiting for a bus to Dhaka at Mawna Chawrasta in Gazipur’s Sreepur.

He said some buses were charging Tk 150 for Joydebpur Chawrasta, while others told him that buses could only go up to Rajendrapur due to traffic jams.

According to sources from the Gazipur Industrial Police and workers, T&Z Apparels, located in Maleker Bari area of ​​Gazipur city, was closed down by the authorities without paying the unpaid wages of the workers.

They said six of the company’s factories had unpaid wages for September and October.

“The owners closed the factory without paying our salaries. We have been protesting for some time now to recover our unpaid salaries,” said Abul Kalam, a factory worker who participated in the protest.

Despite repeated promises from the police and army regarding payment dates, management has yet to pay salaries, Kalam added.

The management of TNZ Apparels has not made any statement on this matter.