Workers and employees of Ihc public and private sector enterprises will go for a 48-hour shutdown throughout the country March 15-16 tn a bid to force the government an nounce the Wage Commission report and meet other demands.

Sramik Karmachart Olkya Parishad (SKOP) and four other organisations of jute-tex tile-cotton-sugar mills workers yesterday announced the Identical programme sc pa ralcly.

Prior to announcing the programme in the afternoon, the central leaders of SKOP and those of its four components — Patkal Sramik

Karmachari Sangram Parishad. Suta-Bastraka 1 Sramik Karmachari Federation and Chinikal Sramik Federation met to reach a consensus on an Identical programme

Earlier, the jute-textik-cot-ton sector labour leaders differed with the SKOP-planned 48-hour work stoppage and contemplated enforcing a 72-hour railroad barricade.

The differences were sunk al a joint meeting between the two sides yesterday morning. However, contradictions between the two groups on some issues including the strategy of movement were not removed. meeting sources said.

Mamunur Rashid Choud-

hury. General Secretary of Bangladesh Free Trade Union Congress announced the SKOP-called March 15-f6 strike by the workers and employees of transports, industries and offices at a press conference held at the SKOP" a Topkhana Road temporary of-fiee.

The SKOP chose the strike after ft had several rounds of talks with the government and given it enough time to Implement the accord on (he five-point demand including announcement of minimum wages for the workers. Choudhury told journalists.

Earlier, he narrated the reason - for SKOP's fresh course of action.

Nazrul Islam Khan of Jatiyatabadi Sramlk Dal, Fazlul Haque Mantu of Jattya Sramik League, Abdus Salam Khan of Trade Union Centre and Dr. Waledul Islam Khan. SKOP coordinator answered reporters' queries In the presence of other leaders.

Meanwhite. Abul Bashar announced the 48-hour shutdown by the Jutc-textile-cot-ton-sugar mills workers March 15-16 at another press conference that followed the SKOP's.

Held at the Workers Party office at Topkhana Road, the conference was attended by the labour leaders of the said four sectors.

In his written speech. Bashar, convenor of Patkal Sramlk Karmachari Sangram Partshad, said they were forced to announce the new programme as the government had not fulfilled Its agreement on the announcement of the Wage Commission report and other demands.

He condemned the government 'repression' on the workers during the February 15-16 nationwide barricade

Iqbal Majumder of Suta-Bastrakal Sramik Karmachari Federation. Z M Kamrul Anam of Bastra Shilpa Sramlk League and Nurul Islam Khan ol Chinikal Sramlk Federation were among others present al the press conference.