Gazipur, Nov 11 (V7N) — Workers of the T&Z Group factory in Gazipur once again blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in the Malek Bari area, escalating their protest over unpaid wages and allowances. The workers, who had previously lifted their blockade on Monday afternoon after three days of disruption, returned to the road an hour later when no clear announcement was made regarding the payment of their dues.

The blockade, which started at 9:30 AM on Saturday, was temporarily lifted around 2 PM on Monday after an assurance from the Secretary of the Industries Ministry, who sent an audio message to the workers. The message confirmed that the government would initially arrange Tk 60 million to settle the workers' dues. A meeting was also scheduled at the Labor Ministry between the workers and the factory owners to discuss the remaining arrears. However, the workers expressed frustration over the lack of a concrete timeline for the full payment of their allowances, prompting them to resume their protest.

The blockade caused significant disruptions to traffic on both the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway and the Dhaka Bypass Road. Vehicles, including buses, trucks, and covered vans, were stuck for hours, with passengers and drivers facing immense hardship. Workers, too, have been waiting for their due payments for months, leading to growing unrest.

Assistant Superintendent of Police of Gazipur Industrial Police, Mosharraf Hossain, confirmed that the blockade had been lifted temporarily after the authorities intervened, but the renewed blockade was causing further delays. He reiterated that the government was taking measures to settle the workers’ arrears through a staged payment process.

Despite the disruptions, the workers remain firm in their stance, stating they will continue their protest until all their wages, overtime payments, and dues are cleared. The ongoing situation has highlighted the broader issue of unpaid wages in Bangladesh's garment sector, where workers are demanding fair compensation and timely payment of their dues.

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