Workers at the TNZ Apparels factory staged a demonstration over unpaid wages from the morning, causing a significant traffic jam on both sides of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur.

The protest, which began at around 8.30 am on Saturday in the Maleker Bari area, halted vehicular movement in both directions along the highway, causing immense disruption.

Md Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Industrial Police, said that they were still on the scene and making repeated attempts to persuade the workers to return home through discussions.

‘However, the workers have not heeded our requests as they have not been paid their wages for two months,’ he said, adding that the chairman of TNZ Apparels is currently abroad, and a new chairman has been appointed to address the issue.

Sarwar explained that the factory had been facing difficulties in running its business for the past year due to a shortage of work orders and an inability to make timely shipments for various reasons.

He also noted that the factory’s wage payments have been irregular and that it has allegedly not received support from the bank.

Meanwhile, workers from three other factories – Basic Clothing Ltd, Apparel Plus Eco Ltd, and Basic Knit Wear Ltd – also staged protests over various demands in the Bipas-Gazipur area, according to sources.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) reported that a total of 17 factories – 13 in the Gazipur and Mymensing areas, three in Savar-Ashulia, and one in Mirpur-14 – remained closed on Saturday due to labour protests.

According to BGMEA, out of the 2,089 active member factories, 670 (32.07 per cent) had paid October wages by Saturday, while the remaining 1,419 factories had yet to do so.

Additionally, eight factories have not paid September wages, and two have yet to pay August wages, the trade body added.