State-owned and private jute mills in Khulna have been hit hard by unrest as workers continue to protest to realise their several points demands.
Six private mills owe nearly Tk300 crore in unpaid wages and bank loans while another two suspended production due to a lack of working capital.
Ajax Jute Mill was shut a year ago but is yet to pay overdue wages amounting to Tk55 crore. The authorities are expected to hold a meeting this month to sell the mill.
Managing Director of the mill, Kawsar Zaman Babla, said the factory is unable to take out bank loans as it already has an unpaid loan of Tk70 crore.
“This is why we are unable to resume production.”
With 2,700 workers on the payroll, Sonali Jute Mill on April 4 last year closed all the units except one. The amount of unpaid wages is Tk20 crore but the factory also owes Tk93 crore to Sonali Bank.
The bank authorities said they would file a case to have the loan repaid.
The mill’s General Manager, Nurul Islam Khan Kalu, said the owner is reluctant to pay the overdue wages.
“He is also avoiding any contact with the workers.”
The deputy general manager of Sagor Jute Spinning Mill, Major (retd) Syed Abu Bakar, said the factory had to stop productions because of a crisis of raw materials.
He said jute products cost less than jute in the global market.
But Professor Jahangir Alam Sabuj, central general secretary of Private Jute, Yarn and Textile Sangram Parishad, claimed the authorities of Sagor Jute Spinning Mill had discontinued productions to have their own interests served.
“They made the move because they did not want to implement the demands of the workers.”
Jute workers in Khulna have been protesting since early this month to highlight their five-point demand, including a 20% dearness allowance, adequate allocation in the jute sector, and forming a wage commission board for state-owned factory workers like the pay commission.
Director of Khulna Divisional Labour Office, SK Alam, have called on workers and labour leaders not to stage demonstrations.
