'Peaceful movement' by Khulna jute workers from Sept 1
Khulna-Jessore regional committee of Patkal Sangram Parishad (PSP) has called upon jute mill workers in Khalishpur industrial belt to get ready for a 'peaceful movement' if all their dues remain unpaid after August 31.
The peaceful movement will begin on September 1, said PSP convenor Sarder Motaharuddin who termed closure and present crisis in jute mills as a result of international conspiracy.
Prominent labour leader Hafizur Rahman Bhuiyan, when contacted yesterday, said hungry workers will have no alternative to going for agitation to get all their dues.
Meanwhile, tension is prevailing in Khalishpur and Atra industrial belts in Khulna city following a decision of the management of Crescent Jute Mill to stop granting workers 'leave for indefinite period'.
General secretary of Crescent Jute Mill Workers Union Mohammod Shaha Alam terming the decision 'violation of human rights' said workers were being retrenched in a gradual process on false ground of losing physical fitness.
So far, over 100 permanent workers of Crescent Jute Mills have been sacked as they remained absent from work due to physical indisposition, said CBA leader Mohammod Hossain.
When asked, acting project director of the mill Md Asaduzzaman said, “What I am doing is in the greater interest of continuing production and nothing else”.
He refuted the allegation of violating human rights by not granting 'unnecessary leave' sought by workers under the influence of Patkal Sangram Parishad.
Asaduzzaman said he could not violate rules by allowing over 10 per cent workers to go on leave.
Tension is also prevailing at Atra industrial belt following rumours that Alim Jute Mills may be shut down any time as the government did not allocate funds till yesterday to buy raw materials to keep production going.
The project director Monowar Hossain of the mill hoped that funds would made available soon as assured by the BJMC chairman.
All workers of the mill last week applied to the management to quit their jobs under Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).
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