Only their sacking sections resumed production, sources in the mills said.

Another laid-off mill--Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills--will also start partial operation of its sacking section from June 4.

Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) recently allocated Tk 1.5 crore for purchase of raw jute for Crescent, Star and Platinum jute mills.

Only about thirty per cent of total workers of each of the three mills will be required to work at the sacking sections, the sources said.

Seeking anonymity, the mills' managements said the Tk 1.5 crore raw materials will keep the mills running only for about a week. So far, there has not been any arrangement for further funding to purchase raw materials to keep the mills running after a week, they said.

They could not say when full production in Crescent and Star jute mills might begin. The decision will come from the jute ministry and BJMC, they said.

There is no possibility of reopening of Peoples Jute Mills as it is heavily burdened with bank liability of over Tk 100 crore. Lay-off of the mill was extended by 45 days with effect from yesterday.

BJMC ordered lay-off of the four mills with effect from April 19 following agitation by workers and employees for payment of arrear wages and salaries.

BJMC Regional Coordinator Shamim Ahmed told The Daily Star yesterday that he had asked for Tk 6.52 crore from government for payments for the laid-off period. "I am yet to get any response in this regard", he said.

Around Tk 20 crore out of a total of Tk 70 crore were so far paid against arrear wages and salaries of workers and employees of eight state-owned jute mills in Khulna- Jessore industrial belt, sources said.

Meanwhile, security measures were further tightened at Khalishpur industrial belt as workers of Peoples Jute Mills decided to resume agitation demanding reopening of the mill. Workers' leaders at the mill said they would begin fresh agitation within 2-3 days for reopening the mill. They reasoned that their mill should also be reopened as Crescent and Star jute mills were reopened with heavy financial burdens.