Workers of privately owned jute mills in Khulna city demonstrated by blocking road and railway line for two hours today to press home their six-point demand, including payment of arrears and reopening of the closed jute mills.

Witnesses said the workers started gathering in front of Janata Market in the city this morning defying police objection and later blocked Phulbarigate level crossing around 10:30am.

They also blocked Khulna-Jashore Highway for one hour starting around 11:30pm in front of Janata Market, reports our Khulna correspondent.

The workers said Mohsen, Afil, Sonali, Ajax, Jute Spinus jute mills located in Shiromani industrial area have been closed for several years and the owners did not pay their areas yet.

Sheikh Amjad Hossain, president of Private Jute, Yarn and Textile Mill Workers Federation, said they have been knocking doors of officers concerned but without any success.

However, the mill owners are selling the properties without paying their arrears, he said.

He said if the demands are not met by September 15, they will stage a demonstration by blocking road and railway line at Phulbarigate again on September 17.

When the correspondent tried to contact the authorities of Sonali Jute Mill for comments in this regard, no one received the phone call.

Md Kamal Hossain, officers-in–charge of Khanjahan Ali Police Station, told the correspondent that traffic movement on the highway was normal as workers blocked one portion of Khulna Jashore Highway for a while.

The rail communication was not hampered as no train was scheduled during the blockade, said our correspondent.