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Workers of Lucky Star, a garment factory in Tongi, Gazipur, blocked a road on Monday demanding payment of their outstanding wages, bringing traffic to a halt in the area.
The workers launched their protest on Monday (October 26) morning, refusing to join work before blocking a regional road and staging demonstrations.
They alleged that the factory had been closed without prior notice and without paying their outstanding wages.
According to the workers, their salaries were due on October 13, but the payment date was postponed several times. When they arrived at the factory on Monday morning as usual, they found a closure notice posted at the main gate. They said they had not been informed in advance about the closure.
Jewel Hossain, a factory operator, said they had been promised their wages on October 13 but had been repeatedly asked to wait. “When I arrived at work this morning, I saw a notice hanging at the main gate. The factory has been closed without paying our wages,” he said.
Another operator, Monowar Hossain, said the workers were struggling to support their families without their salaries. He questioned how they would pay house rent and settle outstanding bills at grocery shops, adding that they faced repeated delays in receiving their wages despite working regularly.
Operator Rozina said the protest would continue until the workers received their dues. “We want what we are legally entitled to. We will not withdraw from the movement until our wages are paid,” she said.
The workers said the factory’s closure without clearing their dues or giving them prior notice had left them facing severe uncertainty. They urged the authorities to ensure payment of their outstanding wages and compliance with labour laws.
They said their salaries were their families’ primary source of income, covering rent, grocery bills, children’s education and other household expenses. They called for the immediate payment of arrears and the reopening of the factory.
Shamsuddin, general manager of the factory, said the company had been unable to ship its goods or obtain funds from banks. As a result, management had decided to close three of its establishments, he said, adding that efforts were underway to pay the workers.
Meanwhile, industrial police were working to restore normalcy. Manzur Haque, officer-in-charge of the industrial police, said discussions were underway with both the workers and the factory owners to resolve the dispute.
