Authorities have announced the closure of all garment factories along an approximately 13-kilometre stretch from Konabari to Chandra in Gazipur following protests by garment workers demanding higher wages and blocking the Dhaka-Tangail Highway.

Workers blocked the highway in the Chandra Palli Bidyut area after noon on Saturday (October 31), demanding that the minimum monthly wage be set at Tk 30,000. Most factories in the area subsequently declared a holiday to prevent further escalation of the situation.

According to police and workers, employees initially gathered in front of the Interstoff factory after refusing to join work and began protesting for a monthly wage of Tk 30,000. Workers from several nearby factories later joined the demonstration. At one stage, they blocked the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, bringing traffic to a halt on both sides.

The blockade caused severe suffering for commuters, with vehicles stranded in long traffic queues.

Officer-in-Charge of Kaliakair Police Station Shahidul Islam said workers from several garment factories had taken to the streets after noon to press their demands. Police were trying to persuade them to leave the highway.

Meanwhile, workers at several factories in Ashulia, Savar, also staged demonstrations demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, an end to blacklisting and other benefits.

During the protests, an industrial police member was injured after being hit by bricks and stones allegedly thrown by workers. Clashes involving chasing and counter-chasing between workers and police were also reported.