A fire at a pharmaceutical factory in Tongi and a simultaneous road blockade by garment workers in Uttara caused extensive traffic disruption on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway yesterday, resulting in significant delays for commuters across the region.

The blaze erupted at approximately 10:14 a.m. at the Drug International Ltd factory located in Cherag Ali, Tongi. Emergency responders were able to bring the fire under control nearly four hours later, at 1:55 p.m. The incident led to the closure of sections of the highway, with vehicles becoming immobilized for several kilometers. This gridlock affected office workers, students, long-distance bus passengers, and drivers, with many passengers opting to disembark and continue their journeys on foot. Emergency vehicles also experienced difficulties navigating the congested roads.

Compounding the traffic challenges, a group of garment workers staged a protest in Azampur, Uttara, beginning around 11 a.m. The protesters blocked one lane of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to press demands including a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000, salary increases, and the payment of outstanding wages. Their demonstration further slowed traffic flow and forced alternative routes to become congested.

Authorities engaged in dialogue with the protesters, and by approximately 1:30 p.m., the workers dispersed from the roadway, allowing traffic to gradually improve. Uttara Division Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Al Amin Sarker confirmed that a portion of the highway had reopened following discussions, though some protesters remained near the Airport roundabout for a time as police worked to fully restore normal traffic conditions.

Airport Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kamrul Hasan Talukder reported that several hundred garment workers had blocked the road between the airport and Jasimuddin area earlier in the morning. Following interventions by police and traffic management teams, the protest ended by early afternoon, leading to the resumption of regular traffic flow.

The dual incidents underscored ongoing challenges related to urban traffic management and industrial labor disputes in the region, disrupting a key transportation artery serving Dhaka and surrounding areas.