Workers in Rupganj, Narayanganj, have once again become agitated demanding arrears of salary for four months. On Thursday (September 11), hundreds of workers of ASBRM Steel and Re-Rolling Mill held a blockade program in the Barpa area of ​​the Dhaka-Sylhet highway from 2 pm to 4 pm.

During the blockade, the workers toppled electricity poles, set tires on fire, and took positions on the highway with sticks and bricks.
This caused hundreds of vehicles to get stuck on both sides of the highway, creating a long traffic jam.
Thousands of passengers and transport drivers suffered.
Upon receiving the information, the police quickly went to the spot and spoke to the workers and brought the owners to a discussion.
At one stage of the discussion, the owners gave a written assurance to immediately pay one month’s salary and to pay the remaining three months’ salary and allowances by next Wednesday (September 17).
After this, the workers lifted the blockade program. When the situation normalized around 4 pm, traffic started moving on the highway.

The factory workers said that about 400 workers work in this company. They have not been paid for four long months.
Despite repeated demands, they were forced to protest because the owner made excuses.
The workers complained that they are struggling to run their families due to non-payment of salaries, many of them are running their families on loans.

Tension spread across the area due to this incident.
However, the situation was brought under control without any major clashes due to the activities of the police and administration.

It is worth noting that earlier on September 9, workers of the same company’s Premier Steel Mills also blocked the highway demanding payment of outstanding salaries and allowances.
Since workers’ dissatisfaction has repeatedly appeared in different factories of the same company, locals believe that such a situation is being created due to the owner’s mismanagement and negligence towards the workers.

The workers said, we no longer want to take to the streets to get salaries.
But if the owners do not keep their promises, we will be forced to launch a more stringent movement.