Police Use Tear Gas, Sound Grenades as Garment Workers Block Highway
A significant number of law enforcement officers were later deployed in the area to restore order.
Garment workers blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur's Barobari area for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000. Clashes erupted between protesters and police, prompting law enforcement personnel to fire tear gas shells and sound grenades in an attempt to bring the situation under control.
The incident occurred around 9:30am on 4 November in Barobari, near Board Bazar in Gazipur metropolitan area. The blockade brought traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to a complete standstill.
According to sources, workers took to the highway around 9:30am and staged demonstrations by blocking the road. When law enforcement personnel arrived to disperse them, protesters allegedly pelted them with bricks and stones.
Police subsequently fired tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators, further escalating tensions in the area. At one point, protesters reportedly attempted to attack Basan Police Station, hurling bricks and stones into its premises while advancing towards the station with sticks and other weapons. Police responded by firing tear gas shells.
A large number of additional law enforcement personnel were later deployed in the area to maintain order.
Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Amzad Hossain said the situation had remained normal across the area since morning, apart from an isolated incident in Barobari.
He added that an adequate number of law enforcement personnel had been deployed to the area to prevent further escalation.
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