Fire Service men douse in water agitating jute mill workers, who were dispersed by police near Crescent Jute Mills in Khulna to foil their self-immolation bid yesterday.Photo: Focus Bangla

Police yesterday foiled earlier announced 'self-immolation programme' of Jute Mill Workers' Development Committee.
As 30 workers of Crescent, Star and Platinum Jubilee jute mills, wearing shrouds and carrying plastic jars filled with kerosene, started proceeding towards the canopied dais on the premises of Crescent Jute Mills as preparation for the self-immolation at 11:00am, police chased them away.
Fire Service men were called to douse jute mill workers who brought out a procession on Khalishpur BIDC road at 11:45am.
When police warned them of legal action for violating emergency power rules, the agitating workers held back.
The law enforcers also assured them of resolving the crisis within the shortest possible time.
At one stage, Khalishpur industrial belt became highly tense. Roadside shopkeepers closed their shops out of panic.
Later at 1:30pm Khulna Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Shahadat Hossain sat with leaders of Jute Mill Workers' Development Committee in front of Crescent Jute Mills to discuss matters relating to eight-point demand of workers.
He announced through microphone quoting Jute Adviser Anwarul Iqbal as saying that arrear wages of workers would be paid before Eid-ul-Fitr.
“We have decided to postpone our self-immolation programme till September 27 after getting assurance of the jute advisor through deputy commissioner of KMP,” said Gazi Masum, convenor of Jute Mill Workers Development Committee.
Tk 68 crore is needed to pay arrear wages for workers of seven jute mills in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt, Gazi Masum said.