Token hunger strike for 'golden handshake' dues

Ninety-eight workers of state-owned Darwani Textile Mills on a token hunger strike in front of the mill gate in Nilphamari on Monday. PHOTO: STAR

They threatened of "self-immolation" if their dues are not paid by January 25. Ninety-eight workers and employees of the mill accepted the 'golden handshake'.

At a brief rally there, speakers said they accepted the 'golden handshake' as BTMC Chairman Brig Gen (Rtd) Anwar Hossen Chowdhury during a visit to the mill in August last year assured them in presence of CBA leaders and journalists that 'inshaallah dues would be paid within one and a half months or two months".

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The 98 people accepted 'golden handshake' following the chairman's verbal assurance, the said.

But the mill authorities adopted a trick, the speakers alleged. The mill authorities managed a written agreement with the workers and employees that payments would be made when the government provides money, they said. The total dues is about Tk two crore 33 lakh.

Not getting the dues after two months, their leaders at a press conference at Nilphamari Press Club on December 13 last year urged the government and the mill authorities to pay their dues by December 31.

Then they staged demonstrations, but to no response, the speakers said.

The rally was addressed by, among others, CBA Acting President Abdur Rahman Prodhan, Jatio Sramik Party central organising secretary Bazlar Rahman, Nilphamari Jubo League General Secretary Shahed Mahmud, CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) President Sreedam Das.

When contacted, the mill's General Manager Zulhas Mia said he is maintaining constant contact with the BTMC chairman, who is also very keen to make the payments at the earliest.

CBA Acting President Abdur Rahman Prodhan, who is also a leader of ruling BNP's labour front Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal said he accompanied by leaders of Sramik League (Awami League's labour front) and Jatio Sramik Party (labour front of Ershad's Jatiya Party) met the BTMC chairman in Dhaka on September 23 last year. The chairman told them that he had written to the Finance Secretary for funds and was awaiting a reply.

Former CBA president Mahatabuddin Sarkar alleged that the authorities were trying to create a frustrating situation in the mill to pave the way for its privatisation.