Jute mills workers in Khulna and Jashore have launched their pre-announced three-day strike to press home their demands for unpaid wages and other benefits.
The protestors have also enforced a four-hour shutdown on highways and railways, which will remain closed to trains and vehicles until 12pm on Tuesday (Apr 2). As of the filing of this report, no trains have left the Khulna Railway Station, effectively cutting off the city’s rail link from the rest of the country.
Workers from nine state-owned jute mills across Khulna and Jashore are observing the 72-hour strike from 6am on Tuesday, demanding a wage commission, immediate payment of due gratuities and provident fund.
Workers have taken up positions in key areas of the region, such as Khalishpur new road intersection in Khulna, in front of Alim Jute Mill in Atra, Rajghat in Jashore and parts of the Khulna- Jashore Highway.
“The 3-day strike has been launched from 6am on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the 4-hour shutdown on highways and railways began from 8am the same day,” Platinum Jute Mill workers’ leader Khalilur Rahman told Bangla Tribune.
Jute Mills Workers League, CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) and non-CBA Oikya Parishad are observing the demonstration.
Even after four years
Protesting jute mill workers said even after four years, authorities concerned have yet take steps to realized workers’ demands, such as the long awaited Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) wage commission.
They added that workers have yet to get their due wages, provident funds and permanent employment of transferred workers, so this demonstration has been launched to press home their demands.
Responding to query, Jute mills workers’ CBA and non-CBA Oikya Parishad General Secretary Jakir Hossain said, “Jute mills in Khulna region are yet to pay six weeks of wages to their workers, and two months of wages to their staff.
“Production in those jute mills has dropped sharply, due to financial issues. BJMC promised to implement wage commission in state-owned jute mills by Mar 28, but the promise is yet to become a reality.”
The workers’ leader added that the demonstration has been launched to press home the workers’ demands.
Earlier on Monday, jute mills workers in Khulna announced the 72-hour strike to press home their demands for unpaid wages, and other benefits. A red-flag rally was held in the district where jute workers of several factories gathered and voiced their demands.
The rally was led by the Jute Mills Workers League and Khalishpur Jute Mill collective bargaining agreement (CBA) president Md Murad Hossain.
The workers and leaders expressed their frustration with BJMC (Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation) for not fulfilling their demands for the last four years.