Workers' Threat Of Hunger Strike
BJMC chairman in Khulna for talks with high officials
Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) chairman Ataharul Islam arrived in Khulna yesterday noon for talks with high officials of state-owned jute mills in Khulna-Jessore area.
He will hold several meetings till Monday on the situation in the industrial belt arising out of non-payment of outstanding dues of retrenched workers and employees.
The BJMC chairman's visit follows a threat of hunger strike by some retrenched workers of seven state-owned mills from September 16 if their outstanding dues including gratuity and provide fund are not paid in full by September 15.
The BJMC chairman is accompanied by controller (finance) Mohammod Ali Chowdhury, general manager (Research and quality control) Abu Saeed, deputy general manager (production) Shamsul Huq and manager (Jute) Shah Rafiqulddoula.
Earlier on Thursday evening, over 200 retrenched workers of seven jute mills held a rally in front of the administrative building of Crescent Jute Mills where they announced their hunger strike programme.
Meanwhile, the government has allocated more Tk 11.24 crore for six mills to purchase raw Jute. But Alim Jute Mill did not got any fund for jute purchase for reasons yet be known, said its Project Director Monwar Hossain.
Meanwhile reformist BNP leader and former whip Ashraf Hossain crirticised the government policy as regards state-owned jute mills, saying it reflects IMF prescription.
Ashraf Hossain claimed that Brig (retd) Hannan Shah who was jute minister during 1992-96 BNP rule supported IMF prescription to privatise jute mills.
“I opposed the move”, he told this correspondent yesterday.
“But unfortunately. I did not get support either from (the then) prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia nor any other cabinet member”.
Former BNP lawmakers Ali Asgar Lobi and MAH Selim (now detained) backed IMF prescription to privatise nationalised jute mills, Ashraf Hossain claimed. He has urged the caretaker government to take proper steps to run the jute mills.
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