Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Garment workers yesterday blockaded Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Bagherbazar point of Gazipur for around half an hour following a rumour that four of their co-workers died in a road accident.

Witnesses said four workers of Golden Refit Garments Ltd were crossing the highway around 2pm when a speeding motorbike hit them, leaving them injured.

Locals rescued and took them to Al-Hera Hospital. But a rumour spread among workers that the four had died. Workers took to the street and blocked the highway.

Vehicular movement was halted and the blockade caused long tailbacks. Later, police went to spot and defused the situation after talking to the workers, said OC Manjurul Islam of Mawna Highway Police Station.

Vehicular movement resumed around 2:30pm, said the OC.

Of the four victims, Sharmin Akhter’s (35) condition was critical, said MA Hasan, administrative manager of Al-Hera Hospital. The other injured are Rubina Begum (30), Salma Akhter (30) and Sabina Akhter (30).

As Sharmin’s condition kept deteriorating, she was referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

Talking to journalists, Golden Refit Manager Moniruzzaman said the authorities had halted operations of the factory for the day considering the untoward situation.