Wages Discontent In Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills
Workers attack labour leaders' house, police deployed
President of Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills Workers' Union Sheikh Delwar Hossain and general secretary Md. Jahangir Hossain were injured as they came under attack by a group of casual workers at about 9 am in front of the mill administrative building yesterday.
The incident occurred when over 400 casual workers were observing two-hour sit-in programme as part of their ongoing agitation launched on September 10 to press the demand for daily wages of Tk 115.
BJMC refused the demand and agreed to pay Tk 90 to casual workers as daily wage.
According to Jahangir Hossain, a group of casual workers attacked his house without any provocation. They ransacked all rooms, damaged furniture and looted gold ornaments of his wife Lipi Begum and daughter Kaniz Fatema Liza.
Some workers made an attempt to drag my twenty-year old daughter Liza out of the hosue but failed as she was rescued by neighbours, Jahangir claimed.
While going away angry workers threatened to kill him for siding with the mill management against their interest, Jahangir alleegd.
Jahangir's wife Lipi Begum lodged an FIR with Khalishpur police station naming 20 casual workers as accused for looting money and gold ornaments.
Police arrested two FIR -named accused from in front of the mill gate. They are Shamim and Mujibar.
Security forces have been deployed in and around the mill and also in front of high officials' residences to stave off further violence.
Earlier on Friday, angry casual workers confined the BJMC project director and six other officials in a room of the administrative building for four hours from 8 am to 12 noon and snatched their personal belongings including money.
On information, security forces rushed there and rescued the officials.
None of them attended office yesterday. Members of their families feel insecure, some of the officials said.
Workers in seven state-owned jute mills today begin three hours' sit-in in the mills demanding payment of arrears.
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