Akij Jute Mills workers observe hunger strike demanding reopening of mills
Monday, 30 March 2009
Our Correspondent
JESSORE, Mar 29: Several thousand workers of Akij Jute Mills Ltd, the biggest jute mills at Nawapara industrial area in Jessore, observed a token hunger strike from 10am to 6pm Sunday protesting the closure of the mills.
The authorities declared the mills closed on March 23 on security grounds.
The mills workers staged demonstration protesting the decision. They also blocked Jessore-Khulna highway in front of the mills. An oil tanker was damaged by the agitated workers during the blockade.
The workers said it was closed as part of the conspiracy to close the mills permanently. Moreover, the mills owners want to grab a road that runs through various parts of the mills, they added.
Sources said the authority of Akij Jute Mills declared the mills closed on the pretext that the security of the mills is under threat, as the authority filed a case against some persons of the locality.
But the locals alleged that the authority is trying to grab a road that connects the Jessore-Khulna highway and the adjacent village.
The authority had already evicted some local landowners after they had been compelled to sell their property at a throw away price.
Recently the authority sacked a number of workers prompting them to attack the mills on January 24 injuring some employees. A case was filed against 12 persons in this connection.
Of the accused, Sarwar, Abdur Rab Gazi and Abdul Halim Gazi, residents of Gabindapur village, were arrested by the police on the night of March 22.
Akij Jute Mills Manager (administration) MJ Rashed told journalists that after the arrest of the three, the locals attacked the mills on March 23 in which four security guards were injured. 'The mills was declared closed on security grounds', he added.
JESSORE, Mar 29: Several thousand workers of Akij Jute Mills Ltd, the biggest jute mills at Nawapara industrial area in Jessore, observed a token hunger strike from 10am to 6pm Sunday protesting the closure of the mills.
The authorities declared the mills closed on March 23 on security grounds.
The mills workers staged demonstration protesting the decision. They also blocked Jessore-Khulna highway in front of the mills. An oil tanker was damaged by the agitated workers during the blockade.
The workers said it was closed as part of the conspiracy to close the mills permanently. Moreover, the mills owners want to grab a road that runs through various parts of the mills, they added.
Sources said the authority of Akij Jute Mills declared the mills closed on the pretext that the security of the mills is under threat, as the authority filed a case against some persons of the locality.
But the locals alleged that the authority is trying to grab a road that connects the Jessore-Khulna highway and the adjacent village.
The authority had already evicted some local landowners after they had been compelled to sell their property at a throw away price.
Recently the authority sacked a number of workers prompting them to attack the mills on January 24 injuring some employees. A case was filed against 12 persons in this connection.
Of the accused, Sarwar, Abdur Rab Gazi and Abdul Halim Gazi, residents of Gabindapur village, were arrested by the police on the night of March 22.
Akij Jute Mills Manager (administration) MJ Rashed told journalists that after the arrest of the three, the locals attacked the mills on March 23 in which four security guards were injured. 'The mills was declared closed on security grounds', he added.