Garments workers block road in Kakrail after march towards Jamuna stopped

Garment workers blocked the road in front of Kakrail Mosque this afternoon after police barred them from marching toward the chief adviser's residence at the state guest house Jamuna.

Golam Faruk, officer-in-charge of Ramna Police Station, said the workers have been demonstrating to press home their demand for wages.

Witnesses said several hundred workers of eight garment factories under TNZ group have been demonstrating at Shrom 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 began marching toward Jamuna from Shrom Bhaban. As the procession approached Kakrail Mosque, police stopped them by setting up a barricade with barbed wire.

The workers then sat on the roads and started changing 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.