15-day workers' agitation begins from tomorrow

The 15-day programme include 'coffin (wearing burial cloth) procession' on May 17, lathi (stick) procession on May 24, public meeting and day-long barricades on roads and railways on May 26.

It was announced at a big rally held at Khalishpur Sramik Munder Friday evening the banner of Khulna Jessore regional unit of Jute, Yarn and Textile Mill Workers and Employees' Action Committee. Convenor of the committee prominent labour leader Sarder Motahar uddin presided over the rally.

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Speakers at the rally said a Kansat-like movement will be launched in Khulna from May 15 if the government tries to suppress their agitation to realise legitimate demands of workers and employees of eight closed jute mills in Khulna Jessore industrial belts.

Other demands include allocation of fund for buying raw Jute, announcement of a wages commission and its implementation, payment of arrear wages and salaries, medical allowance and dearness allowance, payment of arrears of workers employed on adhoc basis and payment of money of workers who were retired under golden handshake programme.

Awami League-led 14-party alliance expressed its solidarity with the agitation of jute mill workers and employees.

The rally was addressed by, among others, former Awami League lawmaker Kazi Sikander Ali Dalim, CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) leader advocate Feroze Ahmed, Workers Party leader Hafizur Rahman Bhuiyan and prominent labour leaders Shah Alam, Azizur Rahman, Lutfor Rahman, Jahangir Hossain and Shah Alam.