9 Khulna Jute Mills: 250 sued over attack on cops

Khulna Metropolitan Police has filed a case against 250 unnamed people over an attack on the law enforcers during a 72-hour strike of nine state-owned jute mills' workers in Khulna and Jashore.

Amit Kumar Bagchi, sub-inspector of Daulatpur Police Station, filed the case with the station around 10:00pm on Thursday as four policemen were attacked inside Pabla Police Box in Khulna town's Natun Rasta area on the same day.

Workers from major mills including Crescent, Platinum, Khalishpur, Daulatpur, Star, Eastern and Alim Jute Mills had been engaged in protests to press home their nine-point demand. Their demands include clearing their arrears, gratuity and insurance payments of retired workers and regularising temporary workers.

Kazi Mostaq Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Daulatpur Police Station, said the protesters injured four traffic inspectors -- Abul Basher, Monir, Raatul and Raihan -- and vandalised all the belongings of the police box.

“We have collected CCTV footage and pictures of the attack that have been published on different news outlets. The culprits will be brought to book as per the directives of senior police officials,” he added.

On Thursday, clash broke out when the workers chased a policeman who was trying to take video footage and photographs of demonstrating workers who had blocked the rail line in Natun Rasta area around 10:30am, said police and witnesses.

Being chased, the law enforcers took shelter in the nearby Pabla police box. Then, some workers attacked the police box injuring four policemen, claimed Kazi Mostaq Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Daulatpur Police station.

Contacted, Khulna Metropolitan Additional Deputy Police Commissioner Sheikh Moniruzzaman Mithue echoed OC Mostaq's statement and said the protesters attacked police without any provocation.

Bangladesh Jute Mill Workers' League President Sardar Motahar Uddin, however, denied the allegation and said no worker was involved in the attack on policemen.

“Some opportunist groups carried out the attack,” he said.

The Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) and Non-CBA Oikya Parishad, the banners under which the workers protested, would arrange a meeting with CBA leaders of 26 state-owned jute mills today.

After the meeting, workers are expected to rejoin their work tomorrow.