A group of garment workers in Narayanganj’s Fatulla upazila staged a road blockade on Thursday (12 February) to demand overdue salaries and bonuses. The protest took place in the Gabtoli Police Line area, where employees of Century Garments halted traffic to press for their dues.
According to the workers, the factory management has failed to pay their wages and overtime for the past two months. Although salaries were scheduled to be disbursed on Monday, the payments did not materialise. After repeated complaints to management yielded no results, the workers resorted to taking to the streets.
The blockade caused severe traffic congestion on both sides of the road, inconveniencing commuters and local residents. The protesting workers stated that the demonstration would continue until their back pay and bonuses were settled.
Abdul Khalek, a cutting operator at the factory, said:
“We have not received our wages or overtime payments for two months. We had no option but to come onto the street. Our protest will continue until the overdue amounts are fully paid.”
Fatulla Model Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, Abdul Mannan, confirmed that police, industrial police, and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel arrived at the scene. They engaged in dialogue with the workers and coordinated with the factory management to seek a resolution. Following assurances from the management that all pending payments would be settled, the workers lifted the blockade at around 11:30 a.m., allowing traffic to resume.
Incident Summary
| Subject | Details |
|---|---|
| Date & Time | 12 February, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
| Location | Gabtoli Police Line, Fatulla, Narayanganj |
| Factory Involved | Century Garments |
| Demands | Two months’ salary, overtime, and bonus payments |
| Participants | Workers, mainly cutting and machine operators |
| Police Action | Negotiation and mediation by police, industrial police, and RAB |
| Outcome | Blockade lifted; traffic restored; management pledged payment |
Labour rights experts say this incident highlights ongoing challenges in the garment sector, particularly concerning delayed wages and inequitable treatment of workers. They warn that unless factory management ensures timely salary payments and promptly addresses worker grievances, larger-scale strikes or labour unrest could emerge in the future.
The protest has drawn renewed attention to the critical need for stronger enforcement of labour rights in Bangladesh’s garment industry, which employs millions and remains a vital contributor to the national economy. Observers note that regular dialogue between workers and management, along with transparent payment practices, is essential to prevent similar disruptions.