Around two thousand factory workers blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Sreepur, Gazipur, demanding their annual leave payments, causing a significant traffic jam. Hundreds of goods carriers and public transport were stranded.
The police fired rubber bullets to disperse the workers, who retaliated by throwing bricks. Several workers were injured by the rubber bullets, and an inspector of industrial police and a police constable were injured by the bricks.
On Tuesday (July 2) at 11:30 am, workers from Anwara Net Composite Factory in Mulaid village of Telihati Union began protesting by blocking the highway in the Rangila Bazar area.
The police tried to disperse the workers, leading to a clash. Injured in the clash were Gazipur Industrial Police Inspector ASM Abdur Noor (55) and Constable Md. Insan Mia (32). The injured workers were Jamela Khatun (28), Lipi Akhtar (34), Liza Akhtar (28), and Sumi Akhtar (23).
Sufia Akhtar, a factory worker, said that the factory had been providing annual holiday pay for 16 years, but this year, due to high costs, the workers had to protest for their dues. During the protest, some workers were shot.
Mostafizur Rahman Sayim, an official from Anwara Net Composite Factory, stated that the workers demanded their annual leave payments, which could not be provided immediately. Despite promising to pay within the current month, the workers blocked the road.
Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Sarwar Alam said the police tried to convince the workers to leave the highway, but the situation escalated when workers threw bricks at the police.