The management of the recently closed Adamjee Jute Mills (AJM) Limited will pay the outstanding wages and salaries of workers and staff today and start paying the golden handshake from July 15, Jute Ministry and AJM sources said.

Workers will get arrears of one week's salary and house rent for one month. Besides, about 1400 officials will also receive their salary today, said the sources.

There are around 24,000 workers still in the AJM complex waiting for their dues. Workers and employees have already submitted the forms and photographs for the golden handshake.

The AJM management has formed an emergency cell comprising over 500 employees to continue the emergency services of the closed industry. The cell is responsible for finalising the dues of workers, employees and officials, said a top official of AJM.

"Although the mill was shut down on June 30, many of the workers, employees and officials are still in their houses inside the AJM complex as their wages and salaries are yet to be cleared. So the utility services have to be continued," he said. An emergency meeting of the Jute Ministry and Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation held recently has approved a policy to pay the entire amount of golden handshake to the workers, employees and officials of the closed mills.

"As per the policy, we will clear the payment. We have requested the Finance Ministry to pay Tk 420 crore to clear all dues. So far, we have received Tk 290 crore and the rest will be available immediately after golden handshake payments starts on July 15," Jute Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmad told The Daily Star yesterday.

Our Narayanganj correspondent adds: Following the comment of opposition leader Sheikh Hasina about the mill's closure, the security of the mill area was tightened from Friday apprehending trouble, with BDR and armed police raiding different areas of Adamjeenagar.

Although the family members of workers already left the mill area last week, police are on high alert and are not allowing anyone to assemble in meetings or other gatherings. Sources said no outsiders would be allowed to enter the mill area from today. AJM authorities have already sealed the main factory area and are not allowing anyone entry without a pass.