Bangladesh News

Thousands of people travelling to the port city and the capital faced immense sufferings yesterday as the agitating jute mill workers in Chittagong blockaded the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway at different points of the division to press home their demands for payment of arrear salary.
Hundreds of buses, trucks and other modes of transports were stranded during the 10:00am-2:00pm blockade creating a severe traffic gridlock.

Under the banner of All Party Workers-Employees Action Committee, Chittagong the workers put up barricades at AK Khan Jute Mill Gate in city’s Pahartali and in front of Anwara Jute Mill, Hafiz Jute Mill and SKM Jute Mill at Sitakunda upazila. Awami League (AL) led 14-party opposition combine also extended their support to the programme.

Their demands include payment of pending salaries and wages of the workers of all private and Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) run mills and ensuring continued operations at the state-run mills.

Rallies were held at the four points during the blockade programme, presided over by Committee Convenor ATM Nizam Uddin. City Mayor and Chittagong City Unit AL President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, workers’ leaders Mazed Chowdhury, Mohammad Osman, Noor Mohammad and Nurul Mostafa Chowdhury addressed the rallies among others.

The speakers demanded that the authorities clear the dues and bonuses of the workers by October 15, adding that the workers must be paid even if productions at the mills remain suspended. They also called for ensuring continued production at all BJMC mills through procurement of jutes.

On September 27, the workers observed an hour-long blockade programme at the same points on the highway and at Arakan Road in city’s Kalurghat area for the same demands.