Workers of Khulna Jute mills have announced four days of fresh protest programs since their demands have not been met within Thursday (Mar 28) as per the assurance provided by Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC).

The workers announced the new protest programs from a rally held at Khalishpur area in Khulna on Friday (Mar 30).

State Owned Jute Mills Workers League General Secretary SM Kamruzzaman Chunnu made the announcement from the rally.

Jute Mills Workers League and collective bargaining agreement (CBA)-Non CBA Association Oikya Parishad Khulna Regional President Md Murad Hossain presided over the program.

Bangladesh Jute Mills Workers League Central President, Shordar Motahar Uddin, attended the rally as chief guest.

The state owned jute mill workers have been protesting for a long time to press their nine-point demands which include the clearance of outstanding wages, a wage commission, gratuities, provident fund payments, and making transfer workers permanent.

The programs include blockading road and railways. The programs will kick off from Monday to Thursday (April 1 to 4). On the first day of the protest program, there will be a red flag and stick rally. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, there will be a 72-hour strike at all jute mills in Khulna along with four hours of road and railways blockade programs from 8am to 12pm.

The workers and CBA leaders also said, if their demands are not met within the new protest deadline, they will meet at their central office in Dhaka on April 7 and come up with tougher programs.

At the rally, the workers and leaders expressed their anger at BJMC for not fulfilling their demands for the last four years.

Labour leader Zakir Hossain said, “Still there are six weeks of pending wages for the workers, and two months of salary for other employees of the mills.”

“To survive and compete in this competitive world, our demands must be met. It aslo should be met in order to keep this sector alive,” he added.