Job seekers block Nabinagar-Chandra road in front of Dhaka EPZ, general holiday declared in several factories

Over a hundred job seekers are protesting by blocking the Nabinagar-Chandra highway in front of the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), demanding the resignation of Ahsan Kabir, the executive director of DEPZ.

This has resulted in severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway.

Among several other demands, the protesters are seeking equal employment of male and female workers.

Amid the protest, most of the DEPZ factory authorities declared a general holiday around noon, according to several workers there.

At the time of writing this report, the protesters continued their demonstration. Members of the army and industrial police are present at the scene.

“We are at the scene, and they are still advocating for the same demands today. We are trying to solve the problem by talking to them,” said Md Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police.

Seeking anonymity, an industrial police officer told TBS that this has been the fourth consecutive day of protests by these job-seeking workers. 

One of the protesters said, “We didn’t come here to fight or cause trouble. We have come with legitimate demands. We repeatedly come for jobs. Although various factory authorities hire women, they do not hire us. 

“We demand that everyone aged 18 to 45 be given jobs according to their qualifications. If necessary, give us training before employing us,” the protesting job seeker said. 

Several attempts were made to contact DEPZ Executive Director Ahsan Kabir over the phone. But he did not answer any of the phone calls.