Jute mill workers are continuing their demonstration—for a fourth consecutive day—in Demra, Dhaka demanding the payment of their outstanding wages, among other demands.
They started the protest around 5:30am on Thursday (May 9) near the Demra intersection and Demra Staff Quarter area.
Demra police station Inspector (operations) Nur Alam Siddique confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
He said, “We are aware of the matter. Our police are already deployed there to prevent any problematic situation.”
He added that the police are working to divert the traffic to different roads as Demra is blocked.
Locals and police said that the workers of the Latif Bawani Jute Mills and Karim Jute Mills in Demra blocked the road near the Demra Staff Quarter area.
Demra police tried to persuade them to end the blockade, but failed.
The blockade has created huge traffic gridlock in the area causing immense suffering for the locals during the third day of the fasting month.
Workers said they are protesting on the road to fulfil their nine-point demand that includes payment of due wages and an increased salary.
They have warned that if the government does not accept their demands, they will go to strike on May 13.
Some 1,000 agitating workers of the two jute mills put up a barricade on the road demanding their arrears and due wages.