The staff of a state-owned jute mill in Atra industrial area in the city have put up a blockade on Khulna-Jessore highway protesting particularly the privatization move of their factory.
The untoward incident took place yesterday while the other demands include payment of arrears as early as possible and the festival bonus before Eid-ul-Azha.
Sources said the workers of Alim Jute Mills, holding bamboo sticks, took position in Afil gate area of the highway since 10am disrupting the vehicular movement and stayed there for four hours.
Later, they held a rally on the busy highway and Alam Jute Mill Rokkha CBA and non-CBA Somannoi Songram Committee Convenor Abdur Rashid presided over it.
During the stalemate, long tailbacks appeared on both sides of the highway forcing the commuters to suffer a lot amid the hot atmosphere.
The speakers threaten of putting blockade on road and rail routes on the Eid day unless their arrears and salary as well as the bonus are paid before the festival.
In Chittagong, the workers of Amin Jute Mills set a blockade on Chittagong-Hathazari road and the rail track to Chittagong University from the city for three hours demanding their arrears.
However, the blockade started from 10am was withdrawn around 1pm on the assurance from the mill authorities following a meeting with the protesting workers.
When asked, Chittagong Industrial Police Inspector (Intelligence) Arifur Rahman Arif admitted it, telling the mill authorities promised to pay a week’s wages by Sunday and the rest as soon as possible.