Several hundred workers of different Readymade Garments (RMG) staged angry protests blocking roads in in Kakrail on Tuesday afternoon after police intercepted them from marching toward the State Guest House Jamuna, the residence of the Chief Adviser in the capital city of Dhaka.
Golam Faruk, officer-in-charge of Ramna Police Station, said the RMG workers staged demonstrations to press home their demand for wages.
Witnesses said at first several hundred workers of eight garment factories under TNZ group staged demonstrations near Shromo Bhaban, which houses the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the Department of Labour, and the Labour Welfare Foundation.
They did not allow officials to enter the building, demanding their due salaries and other benefits.
Around 2:30pm, the protesters launched march toward Jamuna from Shromo Bhaban. As the procession approached Kakrail Mosque, police intercepted them by setting up a barricade with barbed wire.
The workers then sat on the roads and started chanting slogans.
Speaking to reporters during the march, a garment worker said, "We have been demonstrating for about nine days in front of Shrom Bhaban for our salaries and other benefits, but no one has come to talk to us."
"We came here to demand fair wages for our labor. We are poor people—what is our fault? Ensure our salaries, and we will return to our homes and families," he added.
Shah Poran, who is owed three months' salary, said the garment authorities had promised to pay by May 7 but failed to keep their word.
As no one addressed our demands despite several days of protests, we were forced to march towards Jamuna. We will not leave this place until our salaries are paid," he said.
Additional police members were deployed there to ensure security.
