Garment Workers Block Comilla Highway Over Unpaid Wages

In Chandina, Comilla, hundreds of garment workers from Denim Processing Plant Limited staged a protest on the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway on Tuesday morning, demanding overdue salaries and Eid bonuses. The demonstration caused severe traffic congestion, stretching over 15 kilometres in both directions, disrupting the journey of motorists and passengers.

The blockade began at approximately 8:00 a.m. near the Harikhola Mazar area and lasted nearly two hours. Authorities from the Chandina Upazila administration and the Eliotganj Highway Police quickly arrived on the scene to mediate between the workers and the factory management. Following assurances from the management that pending payments would be disbursed promptly, the workers lifted the blockade, restoring normal traffic flow.

Workers’ Grievances

Interviews with several protesting workers revealed that the factory owners had withheld salaries for the past three months, resulting in each worker being owed between 30,000 and 40,000 BDT. With Eid al-Fitr, one of the largest religious festivals for Muslims, approaching, the workers felt compelled to take to the highway to press their demands.

Samimul, a driver of a Dhaka-bound CDM transport vehicle, said, “The workers of this factory staged a similar protest last year over unpaid wages. They are repeating the action this year for the same reason. The management must resolve these issues promptly so that the public is not inconvenienced.”

Administrative Response

Chandina Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ashraful Islam confirmed that upon receiving news of the blockade, Chandina Police Station OC Atikur Rahman and Eliotganj Highway Police OC Ruhul Amin intervened. After discussions with the factory management, the workers were assured that January wages would be paid by Thursday and February wages along with the Eid bonus by 16 March, prompting them to end the blockade peacefully.

OC Ruhul Amin emphasised that the workers had protested primarily due to three months of unpaid wages and pending Eid bonuses. “Once the management provided assurances, the road was cleared, and traffic returned to normal,” he said.

Factory Management Statement

Jahangir Alam, founder and CEO of Denim Processing Plant Limited, claimed that some external parties had instigated the workers to blockade the highway. He reaffirmed that all pending payments would be settled within the announced timeline.

Summary of Arrears and Bonus

The protest highlights the ongoing challenges in the garment sector over wage delays and the necessity for timely administrative oversight to prevent disruptions for both workers and the public.