Jute mill workers occupy Demra road for five hours

Workers of two jute mills in Demra, Dhaka blocked a road on Tuesday while observing the 72-hour strike called by workers of jute mills in Khulna.

The workers of Latif Bawani Jute Milsl and Karim Jute Mills blocked the road near the Demra Staff Quarter area around 8:30am for more than five hours. 

The road blockade created traffic congestion in the area in the morning, causing inconvenience to commuters – especially those going to work and school. 

Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Demra police station OC Siddiqur Rahman said the workers started gathering in the area at 7am. 

“Their demands include the clearance of outstanding wages as well as including formation of a wage commission.”

The protesters withdrew the blockade around 2pm after speaking to the police, the OC said. 

Replying to a question, the police officer also said the workers staged their demonstration peacefully, without causing any chaos. 

Also Read - Khulna, Jessore jute mill workers launch 3-day strike

“So we had no need of arresting anyone, or filing any cases,” the OC said.

Workers of nine state-owned mills in Khulna and Jessore launched a three-day strike at 6am on Tuesday to press home their demands for a wage commission, immediate payment of due gratuities, and a provident fund.

Three workers’ bodies – the Jute Mill Workers’ League, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and the non-CBA Oikya Parishad – have organized this strike, led by Md Murad Hossain, assistant general secretary of the combined central committee of these three platforms. 

The strike is fuelled by the workers’ frustration with Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) for not fulfilling their demands for the last four years.

Around six hours into the demonstration on Tuesday, the BJMC issued a letter instructing the jute mills to implement the wage commission. 

The workers have welcomed the decision, but have warned to continue their protest if their demands are not fulfilled.