Jute mills workers in different parts of the country continued their protests for the second day on Wednesday (Apr 3), blocking off railway tracks and highways to press home their demands for unpaid wages and other benefits.
The shutdown was enforced from by workers of nine state-owned jute mills across several districts including Khulna, Jashore, Rajshahi and Chattogram, on the second day of the 72-hour strike, which began Tuesday (Apr 2) 6am.
The protesters are observing the strike demanding a wage commission, immediate payment of due gratuities and a provident fund.
“The 4-hour shutdown on highways and railways began from 8am, as part of the second day of our ongoing 72-hour strike and work abstention,” Platinum Jute Mill workers’ leader Khalilur Rahman from Khulna told Bangla Tribune.
Khalilur, who serves as the joint convener of state-owned jute mill CBA and Non-CBA Oikya Parishad, continued: “The Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) promised to fulfil only one point of our nine-point demand, and did not give any directives regarding the other eight.”
“Frustrated with the BJMC move, workers leaders made the decision to continue the ongoing demonstration at a meeting on Tuesday night,” he said.
The matter was also confirmed by the Jute Mill Workers’ League Central Assistant Secretary Murad Hossain, who presided over the workers’ meeting.
In Demra, workers of Latif Bawani Jute Mills and Karim Jute Mills blocked the road near the Demra Staff Quarter area, around 8:30am, for more than four hours until 12pm on Wednesday.
In Khulna, the 4-hour blockade of roads and railways began at 8am. Workers are enforcing blockades in key areas of the region, such as the Khalishpur new road intersection in Khulna, in front of Alim Jute Mill in Atra, and parts of the Khulna-Jashore highway, from 8am to 12pm on Tuesday.
Khulna Railway Station Master Manik Chandra said no trains left the station since 6am on Wednesday, and the rail communication from Khulna to the rest of the country has snapped as a result.
In Jashore, more than 3,000 workers took position in the Rajghat area, completely blocking off the traffic on roads and highways. Protesters also took up positions on different parts of the railway tracks, with aims to suspend train movement until 12pm.
The protesters are mostly workers from the Jashore Jute Industry (JJI) and Carpeting Jute Mill Ltd.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune, Carpeting Jute Mill CBA President Jahidul Islam said, “We did not receive any clear indication from the BJMC regarding the fulfilment of our demands. So we have resumed our pre-scheduled shutdown and strike.”
In Chattogram, workers blocked off the Hathazari-Muradpur road in front of the Amin Jute Mill, bringing traffic to a complete halt.
The protesters also blocked off the railways, but allowed the Chattogram University shuttle train to leave the station following a request from the authorities concerned.
Amin Jute Mill CBA Office Secretary and workers’ leader Kamal Uddin confirmed the incident.