Govt threatens closure of jute mills over protest
Thursday, 18 September 2008
The government will close down the jute-mills still in operation and lease them out to private management, if the workers pressed on with their demonstrations, Local Government Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal Wednesday warned, reports bdnews24.com.
The government has set aside Tk 125 million to pay off the arrears of the agitating Khulna jute-mills workers in a couple of days, he said.
"If the workers continue to demonstrate, the government will close down the remaining mills, and then those will be leased out to the private sector," Iqbal told reporters.
The government has already closed down eight of the 22 jute-mills under Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC). The remaining 14 mills are now run by the government.
The adviser, however, admitted that the movement of the workers was rational. "The workers who retired through the 'golden handshake' programme were supposed to get their money in several installments. But the BJMC paid off only first and second installments, and purchased jutes with the third installment."
The government has set aside Tk 125 million to pay off the arrears of the agitating Khulna jute-mills workers in a couple of days, he said.
"If the workers continue to demonstrate, the government will close down the remaining mills, and then those will be leased out to the private sector," Iqbal told reporters.
The government has already closed down eight of the 22 jute-mills under Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC). The remaining 14 mills are now run by the government.
The adviser, however, admitted that the movement of the workers was rational. "The workers who retired through the 'golden handshake' programme were supposed to get their money in several installments. But the BJMC paid off only first and second installments, and purchased jutes with the third installment."