Garment factory workers of TNZ Apparels Limited Group have finally called off their protest demanding unpaid wages for two months and lifted their blockade in Maleker Bari area of ​​Gazipur, allowing vehicles on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to go to destination after 52 hours.

The workers walked off the street today (November 11) at around 2pm after Labor and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman assured them that they would receive one month’s salary next Sunday, confirmed Nazir Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police.

He said Shafiquzzaman spoke to the workers on the phone shortly after 1pm and said the government would take responsibility and donate 6 million lei by next Sunday to pay their dues.

Gazipur Sadar upazila nirbahi officer, army officials and Gazipur metropolitan and industrial police officials were present at that time along with the protesting workers.

Shafiquzzaman invited a team of workers’ representatives to Dhaka to sit with the authorities and hold talks to reach an agreement on how and when dues would be paid and their demands met.

“Your dues will be paid in stages. Discuss among yourselves and decide what to do. We are waiting,” he said, urging the workers to lift the blockade.

The blockade – which began on Saturday morning (Nov 9) – caused severe traffic disruption on a 20km stretch on both sides of the highway, virtually cutting off Dhaka from Tangail, Mymensingh and other districts and leaving thousands of commuters reeling massive. tails.

Long-distance buses, private vehicles and various types of goods vehicles remained stuck for more than 52 hours.

At least 30 other factories were closed yesterday to prevent further unrest. Due to the blockade, at least 20 factories located in the area have also announced a holiday today.

The protesting workers, many of whom stayed on the road all day and overnight in shifts, refused to lift the blockade until they were paid two months’ worth of arrears. TNZ Apparels Limited Group operates six garment factories in the Maleker Bari area of ​​the city.

The queues forced many – travelers and locals alike – to walk to their destinations. Passengers and drivers of vehicles stuck in the back this morning expressed much anger at the lack of effective measures by the government and authorities to resolve the crisis.

“Everything has to have a limit. A major highway has been closed for three days. But the authorities are not doing anything. This is absolutely unacceptable,” said Kalim Uddin, who was away in Mymensingh, as he tried to calm his child in lap.

Truck driver Haider left for Chandpur from Mymensingh two days ago but got stuck with his vehicle, which carries perishable items, on the highway for nearly 30 hours.

“I’ve been on this road for two days. I can’t move my truck, I can’t go anywhere. Most of the passengers got off the buses on long routes they were on and walked to areas where they could find transportation. However, the buses are still here, we are all very frustrated,” he said.

“The owner of that garment factory should be arrested immediately. People have lost patience. How can a highway be closed for three days? The government can fix it in an hour if it wants,” said another irritated commuter, Shakhawat Hossain .

Due to heavy vehicular pressure, gridlocks also extended to the roads connected to the expressway since last night and also after the Gazipur police started diverting the traffic to these alternate routes.

However, the backs of the freeway did not extend any further as many vehicles avoided this route after learning of the blockage.

This morning, hundreds of workers were seen manning their barricades outside the Columbia Garments Limited factory in Maleker Bari area. Many of them were seen wielding sticks. None of them wanted to talk to reporters about anything except their claim for unpaid arrears.

They also stopped Gazipur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner-2 Sarwar Alam and Gazipur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Nazir Ahmed from talking to reporters separately, asking them to make their observations with look at the megaphones.

According to police and workers, six factories under TNZ Apparels Limited Group have outstanding salaries for September and October. The factories had been closed since April, and although operations later resumed, management began delaying payment of two months’ wages.

They said despite several mediation efforts led by police and military officials following the protests, the latest agreed deadline of November 7 came and went without payment – ​​forcing them back into the streets.

Attempts to get a statement from TNZ Apparels management were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, workers of two other garment factories in Gazipur’s Konabari and Baimail areas also demonstrated today, blocking local roads, demanding several demands, including payment of unpaid dues, bonuses and allowances.