Workers block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur

Workers from R&G BD Garments Limited in Gazipur’s Bhabanipur area blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway on Sunday, with 12-point demands, which included increasing the attendance bonus, night shift allowance, tiffin allowance, and the removal of factory administration manager Hasan.

The workers staged the protest on the highway from 1:45pm to 4:45pm, causing traffic disruptions and immense suffering for commuters.

Following the protest, Hasan voluntarily resigned, and the highway was cleared by 5pm, restoring traffic flow. 

The protesters Hasan said, the manager of the human resources and administration department, frequently mistreated workers, summoning them to his office and dismissing them with verbal abuse and physical harassment.

Their demands included an increase in the attendance bonus from Tk500 to Tk1,000, a rise in the tiffin allowance from Tk20 to Tk40 for those working until 8pm, and a guarantee that the attendance bonus would not be deducted if they took leave.

Additionally, they called for earned leave money to be disbursed in January every year, the establishment of a canteen inside the factory, and proper allocation of leave.

They also sought the removal of several factory officials, including Production Manager Hasan from the seventh floor, IE section heads Ashraful Islam and Nachima Akhter, and factory doctor Nusrat Sharmin Asma.

Workers alleged that these officials regularly harassed them over minor issues, including physical abuse.

Complaints to the administration and higher authorities reportedly went unheeded, and those who voiced concerns were dismissed or penalized.

Despite repeated requests for adjustments to attendance bonuses, night shift allowances, and tiffin allowances, management reportedly ignored their applications.

Workers involved in raising these issues were often fired without cause.

Hasan, the manager of the human resources and administration department, denied the accusations, calling them "unreasonable, false, and fabricated."

He questioned the feasibility of the claims, asking reporters: “In the current situation, is it even possible to raise a hand against any worker?”

Joydebpur police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Halim confirmed that Hasan had voluntarily resigned, allowing the workers to end their protest and traffic to resume at 5pm.