Resolute mill workers continue agitation

The agitation of state-run jute mill workers rolled on to day four today without any lesser of resolution to reap demands of pay and arrears.

Several thousands of workers of Latif Bawani Jute Mill and Karim Jute Mill agitated at Demra, Dhaka, since 9:00am to press for the demands.

Carrying sticks, they were chanting slogans demanding payment of their overdue salaries and implementation of the Wage Commission of 2015.

They cleared the road blockades around 3:55pm and ended the protests for today. The agitating workers also vowed to take to the streets again on Saturday.

Separate blockades were reported on the roads in the adjacent areas especially on Sultana Kamal bridge area, causing sufferings to the commuters.

In Khulna, the mill workers also refrained from joining work in the morning in continuation of their countrywide strike, our local correspondent reports.

Khulna and Demra are home to 11 state-run jute mills.  

As part of the agitation programme, they announced to stage demonstrations in Natun Rastar Mor, Kabir Bat Tala, Daulatpur and Khalishpur areas of the city from 4:00pm.

Some 70,000 workers are employed in the 23 jute and three non-jute mills under the state-run Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation (BJMC).

Most jute mills workers have not been paid for six to 13 weeks.

DEMANDS AND PROGRAMMES

Their other demands include implementation of the Wage Commission of 2015, payment of gratuities and provident funds of retired workers, and appointment of workers and making their jobs permanent as per the law.

As part of the programme, no workers will join work and are expected to block roads and railways across the country from 4:00pm to 7:00pm every day for an indefinite period.