January 13, 2008	Sunday	Muharram 03, 1429

DHAKA: Thousands of textile factory workers took to the streets blocking a major highway here on Saturday, demanding a pay rise and overtime payments.

Anwar Hossain, a senior police officer, said police were surrounding the protesters, estimated at 10,000, to stop them spilling into other roads and halting traffic.

“We expect the protests would come to an end soon as factory management and the worker leaders are holding a meeting. We expect a positive outcome,” he told reporters.

Hundreds of students also staged a street protest against the suspected leakage of exam questions at the National University, forcing the cancellation of tests this week.

University authorities were not immediately available for comment. Academic questions often get leaked ahead of examinations in Bangladesh, but successive governments have failed to stop the practice.

The students and the factory workers have both threatened to continue their protests unless their grievances were addressed.—Reuters