Jute mill labour leaders yesterday demanded of the government to formulate a jute policy in order to revive the past glory of the jute sector.
At a press conference, organised by Pat-Suta-Bastrakal Sramik Karmachari Sangram Parishad (a platform of workers-employees of jute, yarn and cotton mills), in Dhaka, they raised a 10-point demand that includes immediate payment of the workers' arrear bills since 1998, purchase of the required amount of jute for jute mills in the harvesting season and lifting ban from trade unionism.
They also announced an agitation programme that includes sit-in programme in front of the offices of all jute mills across the country on September 3 and forming human chains on the 9th of the next month, to press home their demands.
Although two months of jute harvesting period have already passed, the government takes no initiative to purchase raw jute for 15 state-run mills, creating extra profit earning opportunity for jute hoarders, the leaders lamented.
Abul Bashar, Shahidullah Chowdhury, Shafiuddin Ahmed and Lutfur Rahman were among the leaders present at the press conference.