Khulna jute mills work abstention enters 8th day

KHULNA, Jan 6 (BSS): The indefinite work abstention enforced by the employees of eight state-owned jute mills in the district to press for their 11-point-demand entered eighth day on Saturday. Some 25,000 workers of eight state-owned jute mills in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt have been observing work abstention since December 28 to press home their demands, including payment of arrears.
The jute mills are - Daulatpur, Khalishpur, Crescent, Platinum, Star, Aleem, Eastern, Jessore Jute Industries (JJI) and Carpeting jute mills.
Md Belal Hossain, President of Star Jute Mill Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA), said the demands include paying areas (one to three months) to some 35 thousand workers, 20 per cent dearness allowance, and allocation of adequate fund to run the mills and removal of corrupt officials from the administration.
Workers of each jute mills arranged protest meeting at the main gates of respective jute mills on Saturday morning.
CBA leaders of different jute mills including Jafar Ahmed, Pannu Mia, addressed the meeting, among others. Meanwhile, CBA and non-CBA leaders along with local people has opened a 'Nongor Khana' to the members of employees family of the eight jute mills in front of Platinum Jute Mill in Khalishpur area.
While talking to BSS CBA leader Jafor Ahmed said, he along with other CBA leaders departed for Dhaka to join meeting with the jute minister.