The government has allocated Tk 2.65 crore for six out of seven state-owned jute mills in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt for purchase of raw jute.
Aleem Jute Mills at Atra in Khulna city has been left out of this allocation of fund for reason yet to be known, said Gazi Masum, convenor of Jute Mills Development Action Committee (JMDAC).
He said the fund is very small even to meet the need for a week to purchase raw jute.
CBA President Khalilur Rahman said Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills has got Tk 75 lakh for the purpose. The unit needs Tk 12 lakh everyday to purchase raw jute to keep its production normal, he added.
According to a source at BJMC zonal office, the managements of six state-owned jute mills received their shares of allocation of fund on Thursday.
Accordingly, Crescent Jute Mills has got Tk 50 lakh, Platinum Jute Mills Tk 75 lakh, Star Jute Mills Tk 50 lakh, Eastern Jute Mills Tk 25 lakh, Jessore Jute Industry Tk 40 lakh and Carpeting Jute Mills Tk 25 lakh.
Workers of Aleem Jute Mills yesterday staged a demonstration protesting non-allocation of fund for the unit to purchase raw jute.
They also put up a barricade on the Khulna-Jessore highway disrupting traffic for an hour from 10:00am.
Meanwhile, the 17-day agitation programme launched by the workers of the state-owned jute mills to press home their 17-point demand ended yesterday with a threat to paralyse the jute mills if 16 other demands are not met by April 30.