Dhaka, March 22
Thousands of workers staged demonstrations and blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway on Saturday, demanding factory reopening, annual leave, due holiday payment, and bonuses.
They blocked the highway for two hours, halting the movement of traffic and causing severe issues to the locals.
The workers of the Giant Knit garment factory in the Gazipur district of Dhaka division started the protest after seeing a factory closure notice in the morning.
Gazipur Industrial Police Sub-Inspector (SI) Faruk Hossain said that workers had already protested on Thursday over leave and bonus payments.
In response, the factory authorities issued a closure notice, the leading Bangladeshi daily, reported.
Despite multiple attempts to negotiate with the authorities regarding leave and bonuses, they found no resolution.
"We are struggling to survive with our families. Eid is approaching, yet we have no guarantee of our holiday payments and bonuses. The factory must reopen, and our dues must be paid immediately," a protesting worker told The Daily Star.