B-Brothers garment workers block Dhaka-Sylhet highway, clash with police over unpaid wages

Thousands of garment workers from the B‑Brothers factory in Rupganj blockaded the Dhaka–Sylhet highway on 28 February, demanding unpaid wages and allowances for December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026, a protest that escalated into violent clashes with police before a political intervention simmered the standoff. The Business Standard reported that MP Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan Dipu arrived around 2:00pm, held talks with factory owners and, after an assurance that overdue wages would be cleared within one week, workers withdrew from the highway.

The factory is variously named across reports as B‑Brothers Group, B-Brothers Group, B Brothers Company Limited, B‑Brothers Limited and even BRI Brothers; all outlets place the export-oriented garment unit in the Maikuli/Moikuli or Borpa area of Rupganj under Tarabo Pourashava. The Daily Star and Khaborer Kagoj say the demonstration began inside the factory at about 8:30am, with police from Rupganj Police Station and Industrial Police rushing to the scene by midmorning.

Accounts diverge on scale but paint a picture of a large, organized stoppage. The Business Standard and Dhaka Tribune put the workforce at roughly 3,000 and describe thousands taking part. New Age reported more than 2,000 workers, while the Daily Star and Khaborer Kagoj include a passage noting approximately 1,200 employees and that salaries of about 70 to 80 workers remained unpaid; the Daily Star also says some 200 workers initially stopped work and moved onto the highway.

Clashes intensified after mediation attempts. Dhaka Tribune reported Rupganj police, led by OC Shabzel Hossain, conducted a baton charge around 12:45pm; other accounts place a sharp escalation around 1:15pm. Multiple outlets say workers hurled brickbats and that police used batons and fired tear gas. A Business Standard fragment in the material provided states, “Agitated workers hurled brickbats at law enforcers, prompting police to fire several rounds of bullets and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.” New Age said workers set fire to the road to enforce the blockade, and The Business Standard noted that enraged workers vandalised window glass of the factory building.

Injury tallies differ across reports. The Business Standard said seven police personnel were injured after being hit by bricks. Dhaka Tribune’s coverage carried a 20‑injured figure, noting workers, police, journalists and bystanders among the casualties. New Age cited witnesses saying about 15 people were hurt, while the Daily Star quoted anonymous workers saying at least ten were injured, some affected by tear gas.

The protest produced major transport disruption. The Business Standard and New Age reported traffic jams stretching about 12 kilometres, Khaborer Kagoj echoed a 12‑kilometre blockage, and Dhaka Tribune said congestion extended up to 18 kilometres and trapped ambulances and other vehicles. Dhaka Tribune described the highway as blocked for about five hours; the Daily Star described transport suspension for roughly six hours since 10:00am.

Official statements and timelines for payment varied. The Business Standard and TBS reported MP Dipu’s one‑week assurance. Industrial Police Inspector Selim Badsha told the Daily Star that banks were closed and officials had assured payment by next Monday, while Additional DIG Asaduzzaman told the Daily Star owners had promised to clear arrears by next Tuesday. Rupganj OC Sabzel/Shabzel/Subzel Hossain was quoted in several outlets saying workers returned to the factory after management promised to pay and that traffic had resumed.

Attempts to reach factory management for comment were unsuccessful, New Age reported, and The Business Standard said army personnel later joined to help restore order. With divergent figures on workforce, injured and the reported use of live rounds, the immediate outcome is a tentative promise of payment and a fragile truce that will require follow up to confirm whether wages are actually cleared on the timetables offered.