Staff Correspondent, Narayanganj

Workers staged a protest by blocking the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj after a garment factory was shut down without paying due wages and bonuses.

 On Tuesday (April 15) around 11 AM, workers from AST Garments protested by blocking the Dhaka-bound lane of the highway at Madaninagar. As a result, traffic on the highway remained suspended for about half an hour. Upon receiving the news, police from Siddhirganj Police Station and Highway Police arrived at the scene and persuaded the protesting workers to clear the road, after which traffic resumed.

According to the protesting workers, approximately 250 people were employed at AST Garments. The owners had promised to pay their three to four months’ worth of due wages and bonuses after Eid and granted them leave before the holiday. However, when the workers returned after Eid, they found the factory locked.

Later, upon inquiry, they learned that the owners had shut down the factory during the night and fled with all equipment and goods. In response, the workers protested and blocked the highway demanding their unpaid wages.

Efforts were made to contact the owner of AST Garments, Md. Atikur Rahman, but he could not be reached. Multiple calls were also made to the factory’s production manager, Mizanur Rahman, but he did not answer.

In this regard, Officer-in-Charge of Siddhirganj Police Station, Mohammad Shahinur Alam, said, “We managed to persuade the workers to clear the highway. Traffic is now flowing normally. Efforts are ongoing to contact the owners.”

He added, “If any of the workers file a formal complaint, we will take legal action accordingly.”