OUR CORRESPONDENT, Khulna

Hundreds of jute mill workers, along with leaders and activists of various organisations, staged a two-hour sit-in programme yesterday with a six-point demand.

The programme was organised by Khalishpur, Daulatpur Jute Mill Joint Factory Committee.

Their demands include reopening of all state-run jute mills, including the 25 state-owned closed mills and payment of arrears as per the wage commission 2015 of the closed Khalishpur, Daulatpur Jute Mill, KFD and RR of Chattogram and National Jute Mill of Sirajganj.

The workers brought out a procession from People’s Circle in Khalishpur Industrial area around 10:30am and walked through BIDC road. Police intercepted the procession as they were on their way to Notunrasta intersection. Workers then arranged for a sit-in programme, blocking BIDC road until 12:30pm.

The speakers claimed the main reason behind the 25 closed jute mills facing losses was rampant corruption and looting by corrupt government officials of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation and jute and finance ministry consultants.

Leaders representing the workers also criticised the government for not paying arrears to thousands of workers, now unemployed, due to the closure. They demanded immediate payment of their dues and inclusion of workers of all private jute mills under the wage commission.

Ruhul Amin, coordinator of Sramik Krishak Chhatra-Janata Oikya Parishad; SM Rashid, member secretary of Joint Citizens’ Council for Jute Mill Protection; Munir Chowdhury Sohel, coordinator of Gana Sanghati Andolan Khulna; and Al-Amin Sheikh, convener of Student Federation Khulna, were present.