In Chandina, Comilla, garment workers staged a highway blockade to press for their overdue wages and Eid bonuses, causing severe disruption along the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. The protest led to a traffic jam stretching nearly 15 kilometres on both sides of the road, affecting commuters and freight transport alike. Authorities, including the Chandina Upazila administration and highway police officials, swiftly intervened and resolved the dispute through negotiations with the factory management.
The demonstration took place on Tuesday, 10 March, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., outside the “Denim Processing Plant Limited” in the Harikhola Mazar area. Sub-Inspector Md. Ruhul Amin of Eliotganj Highway Police confirmed the incident.
Conversations with participating workers revealed that their salaries had been unpaid for the past three months, with each worker owed between BDT 30,000 and 40,000. Facing mounting financial pressure ahead of Eid al-Fitr, workers were compelled to protest in order to secure their dues.
Samiul, a driver for CDM Transport heading towards Dhaka, said, “Last year, the same factory’s employees blocked the highway to demand unpaid wages. Today’s protest is for the same reason. Ordinary citizens are suffering due to these disruptions.”
Chandina Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ashraful Islam reported that upon receiving the news, he, alongside Chandina Police Station OC Atikur Rahman and Eliotganj Highway Police OC Ruhul Amin, immediately arrived at the scene and engaged in discussions with the factory management. After assurances from the management that overdue salaries and Eid bonuses would be paid promptly, the workers lifted the blockade.
Jahangir Alam, CEO of Denim Processing Plant Limited, stated, “Workers will receive their January salaries by Thursday. February salaries and Eid bonuses will be cleared by 16 March. Some groups had incited the workers to obstruct the highway.”
Pending Salaries and Bonuses
| Month / Payment | Amount per Worker (BDT) | Promised Payment Date |
|---|---|---|
| January | 30,000–40,000 | 12 March 2026 |
| February | 30,000–40,000 | 16 March 2026 |
| Eid al-Fitr Bonus | As per entitlement | 16 March 2026 |
Following the two-hour blockade and the subsequent clearing of the traffic jam, normalcy returned to the highway. Local residents have expressed hope that the factory management and workers will establish a more lasting understanding in the future, preventing similar disruptions and ensuring that the daily lives of ordinary people are not adversely affected.