More than a hundred job seekers demonstrated on Monday for the second day at 7 am in front of the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) in Ashulia, Savar.
The demonstration resulted in a severe 5-kilometre traffic jam on both sides of the Nabinagar-Chandra highway.
The protesters, demanding job opportunities and equal participation for men and women, blocked the highway with bamboos. Traffic was paralysed, and several nearby factories had to close. Army and industrial police were deployed to manage the situation.
The protestors, who gathered in front of the old DEPZ gate, initially blocked access but briefly lifted the blockade around 11 am before resuming it. Eyewitnesses reported disruptions, including physical altercations between job seekers and security personnel.
A job seeker who preferred to remain anonymous stated, “We haven’t created trouble; we just want jobs. Everyone should be given equal opportunities.” Despite submitting CVs in response to DEPZ's requests, some protesters refused to comply with the application process.
DEPZ officials reported that the protestors also demanded fair gender representation and job opportunities. Currently, DEPZ employs 79,588 workers, with women comprising 51% of the workforce, according to Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) data.
BEPZA Executive Director (Public Relations) Anwar Parvez said to the media that job assignments vary by industry, leading to differences in gender representation.
He assured that BEPZA is working sincerely to address the issues raised by the protesters, but the dialogue has been challenging due to conflicting statements from different groups. He further assured that all grievances are taken seriously and addressed.
