Khulna jute mill workers demand promised funds

The commitment was made during the minister's visit to Khulna on May 28 last year.

According to a highly placed source at the zonal office of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), Tk 24 crore has been allocated by the government instead of Tk 31 crore.

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This is a violation of terms and conditions of the agreement signed on the night of May 28 at Khulna Circuit House between Jute Minister Shajahan Siraj and labour leaders in presence of Khulna City Mayor Shaikh Tayebur Rahman, Whip Ashraf Hossain and law makers M Nurul Islam and Mian Golam Parwar, said convenor of Jute Mill Workers and Employees Action Committee Sarder Motahar-uddin.

"We will go for tougher agitation from tomorrow, which will continue till our demands are met fully", he said.

Meanwhile, large contingents of security forces have been deployed in the industrial belts fearing sabotage.

None will be allowed to create 'lawlessness in the name of movement', said KMP commissioner Khan Khan Saeed Hasan.

The jute mill workers have been agitating for long for their arrears and funds for purchasing raw jute and spares to run the mills properly. Most of state-owned jute mills in the area are limping after incurring losses.