Bangladesh, Oct. 16 -- PPolice dispersed garment workers from the Azampur road in the capital's Uttara area shortly before 11:45 am on Thursday, ending a blockade that had lasted nearly four hours. The workers had occupied the road from 8:00 am, demanding payment of arrears, wage increases and other benefits, bringing traffic to a standstill on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and causing severe congestion. Uttara West Police Station officer-in-charge Khalid Mansur confirmed the incident. He said traffic had come to a halt because the garment workers had occupied the road for an extended period.

According to police and garment workers, employees from several factories began demonstrating on both sides of the highway near Azampur at around 8...