Jute mill workers block Ctg road for 3hr for arrears

Workers of a state-owned jute mill in Chittagong city yesterday blocked Chittagong-Hathazari road for three hours demanding arrears of two months.

Around 2,000 workers of Amin Jute Mills Ltd demonstrated before their factory from 10:00am to 1:00pm that created traffic jam causing immense sufferings to travellers.

The workers also set fire to straw in different places on the road.

Mohammed Saimun, a first semester student of Shyamoli Ideal Polytechnic, said he had to walk all the way from Oxygen intersection to Muradpur.

Similarly, Anjuman Ara was forced to walk from the jute mill to Oxygen intersection to visit one of her ailing relatives.

The workers, who are paid once a week, said they were yet to get arrears of nine weeks.

Mohabbat Ali Khan, president of CBA of the mill, said they urged, in vain, the management repeatedly to repay the arrears.

Jotshna Afroza, deputy general manager of the mill, said they could not pay them due to a lack of sale order.

However, the blockade was withdrawn as the authorities agreed to pay the arrears of one week in a meeting with police and the workers' leaders.