Garment workers block key Dhaka-Narayanganj highway demanding wage increases

Garment industry workers staged a blockade on the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road on Wednesday, halting traffic along the crucial transport artery that connects the capital to the industrial city of Narayanganj. The protest centered on demands for improved wages and better working conditions in the sector.

The blockade caused significant congestion on the road, a vital route for commercial and industrial traffic serving the garment and textile manufacturing hubs concentrated in the Narayanganj region. Commuters and business operations faced delays as the workers maintained their position throughout the day.

The action reflects ongoing tensions within Bangladesh's garment manufacturing sector, which employs millions and forms a cornerstone of the nation's export economy. Worker grievances over compensation levels have periodically prompted demonstrations and work stoppages across factories in the Dhaka and Narayanganj industrial zones.

Authorities worked to manage the situation as the workers remained firm in their demands. The protest underscores persistent challenges in labor relations within the country's dominant textile and apparel industry.