Dhaka, Oct. 15 -- Several thousand garment workers blocked Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in the capital's Uttara area on Thursday morning, demanding an increase in minimum wages, timely payment of wages and an end to arbitrary worker layoffs.

The blockade brought traffic on both sides of the highway to a complete standstill, triggering severe traffic congestion on the highway and surrounding roads and causing immense suffering to commuters, long-distance bus passengers and pedestrians.

Uttara West Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khalid said workers from various garment factories in Uttara began blocking the main road in Azampur areaaround 9:30am.

They later blocked the road near Rajlaxmi under Uttara West Police Station.

He estimated that...