Several hundred workers of the ‘China Hardware’ factory blocked the Dhaka-Paturia highway at Nobogram bus stand area in Shibaloy, Manikganj, on Wednesday morning. The blockade began around 9 a.m. as the workers demanded payment of wages and allowances according to the government gazette. The protest caused severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.

According to the workers, multiple meetings had previously been held with the factory management over the same demand, including one on Tuesday, but no effective resolution was reached. As a result, they refrained from entering the factory on Wednesday and instead took position on the highway. The officer-in-charge of Shibaloy Police Station said police arrived at the scene and were in discussions with both the workers and the company management to restore normal traffic and resolve the issue peacefully.

Efforts were underway to reopen the highway and bring the situation under control, according to local authorities.