Workers of RAK Ceramics Ltd staged a protest on Sunday morning, blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Gazipur's Sreepur upazila, demanding arrears and other benefits.
The blockade started at approximately 7am, with several hundred workers participating.
It created a long tailback on both sides of the highway, causing distress to commuters travelling to different locations.
Tensions escalated when law enforcement personnel attempted to clear the road around two hours into the blockade.
A chase and counter-chase ensued between the police and protesting workers.
To disperse the demonstrators, police fired teargas shells and stun grenades.
According to police and locals, the factory workers began their protests early in the morning, voicing their demands, including payment of outstanding wages and allowances.
Sreepur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdul Barik informed that police from the local station, along with a large number of industrial police personnel, arrived at the scene and attempted to convince the workers to leave peacefully.
"But the workers started throwing brick chips at the police. To bring the situation under control, teargas shells and sound grenades were used," he said.
At the time of filing this report at 9:20am, a chase and counter-chase between police and workers was ongoing.
Comments