Workers from two ready-made garment (RMG) factories in Savar staged protests on February 22, blocking regional roads to voice their demands for unpaid wages and the reopening of their factories.
At Bashundhara Garments Ltd in Hemayetpur, workers initiated a blockade on the Hemayetpur-Singair Road at 9 AM, citing non-payment of their January salaries. An anonymous worker expressed frustration, stating, “The factory was supposed to pay our wages on Thursday, but instead, they issued a notice announcing a suspension of operations until February 26 due to general holidays.”
In response to the protests, Additional Superintendent of Industrial Police-1, Md Sufian, intervened, assuring workers that they would receive their wages by March 3, which led to the dispersal of the demonstration.
Simultaneously, workers at Ssain Apparels Ltd in Ashulia’s Kathgora area blocked the Bishmail-Zirabo Road, protesting against the sudden announcement of a one-and-a-half-month layoff. Jesmin, a worker at the factory, shared her outrage, saying, “The authorities had initially declared a holiday until February 20. They paid our January salaries, but now they have announced a layoff right before Eid. This is unacceptable.”
Superintendent of Industrial Police-1, Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, explained that Ssain Apparels had been experiencing financial difficulties. While the issue of unpaid wages was resolved, the layoff announcement sparked fresh protests. He noted that the workers agreed to leave the streets after being promised a discussion with factory officials.
Following police intervention, traffic on both roads returned to normal.
