Jute mill workers threaten to go on hunger strike Tuesday

Workers of nine state-owned jute mills on Sunday threatened to go on hunger strike unto death on Tuesday (10 Dec) to press home their 11-point demand, including immediate payment of their arrears. Photo: UNB
Workers of nine state-owned jute mills on Sunday threatened to go on hunger strike unto death on Tuesday (10 Dec) to press home their 11-point demand, including immediate payment of their arrears. Photo: UNB

Workers of nine state-owned jute mills on Sunday threatened to go on hunger strike unto death on Tuesday (10 Dec) to press home their 11-point demand, including immediate payment of their arrears, reports UNB.

The workers also observed a sit-in programme arranged by CBA and non-CBA Sangram Parishad in the morning.

Over 30,000 jute mill workers in front of their respective jute mills vowed to go for the hunger strike.

The state-owned jute mills are Crescent Jute Mills, Platinum Jute Mills, Khalishpur Jute Mills, Daulatpur Jute Mills, Star Jute Mills, Eastern Jute Mills, Alim Jute Mills in Khulna, and JJI and Carpeting jute mills in Jashore.

Murad Hossain, joint convener of CBA and Non-CBA Sangram Parishad, said they will go on hunger strike unto death on Tuesday because there is no other option for them. "Now, we're unable to run families without salaries and wages," he added.

Leaders of jute workers, including Abdul Hamid Sardar, Shahana Sharmin, Humayun Kabir, Sohrab Hossain, Billal Mollik, Mujibor Rahman, Makbul Hossain, Alauddin, Deen Mohammad and Sheikh Ibrahim were, among others, present.

Their 11 points include necessary allocation for jute sector, payment of outstanding salaries, wages, implementation of Wage Board Commission and weekly wage payment.

On 3 December, jute workers observed a 24-hour strike to press home their 11-point demand

Later on 6 December, the authorities cleared their due salaries of 12 weeks.