In a bold move for fair wages, employees of AA Young Mills Limited in Sreepur, Gazipur, took to the streets on Saturday, causing a major traffic disruption on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway from 6 am to 7:30 am. The demonstration aimed at urging the implementation of a new salary structure faced resistance from authorities, leading to clashes and property damage.
Struggling with a meager monthly income of Tk6,000, the aggrieved workers emphasized the disparity in wage increments between garment and spinning factory workers. Despite pleas for a salary hike falling on deaf ears, the frustrated workers resorted to blocking the highway to draw attention to their plight.
The protest triggered traffic jams on both sides of the key transportation route, prompting the intervention of Shilpa Police, Mauna Highway Police, and Sreepur Thana Police. Efforts to peacefully resolve the issue failed, resulting in the vandalism of 10 to 15 vehicles trapped in the congestion.
Allegations of police brutality surfaced as workers claimed they were chased, beaten, and subjected to sound grenades. In retaliation, bricks were thrown at the police, escalating tensions and causing injuries to both workers and pedestrians.
Complaints about inadequate wages have reportedly driven workers away from spinning mills to seek employment in garment factories. AA Young Mills Limited’s Human Resource Department Officer, Mohammad Sultan Uddin, argued that discussions had been initiated to address salary concerns, but uncooperative workers resorted to road protests without considering alternative solutions.
Mawna Highway Police station Sub-Inspector Ismail Hossain defended the use of tear gas, sound grenades, and rubber bullets, citing the need to disperse the workers and clear the highway after failed attempts at persuasion. The clash sheds light on the ongoing challenges surrounding workers’ rights and fair wages in the industrial landscape.
