For a second consecutive day, workers of two jute mills in Demra, Dhaka, have blocked a road in continuation of a 72-hour strike called by jute mill workers in Khulna.
Workers of the Latif Bawani Jute Mills and Karim Jute Mills blocked the road near the Demra Staff Quarter area, around 8:30am, for more than four hours on Wednesday.
The blockade inconvenienced commuters—especially those attending classes and work—resulting from traffic congestion.
Demra police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Siddiqur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune: "The workers have blocked the road to continue their protests, demanding clearance of outstanding wages, as well as the formation of a wage commission."
However, the blockade ended around 1pm after police talked with the protesters, the OC said.
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The OC further mentioned the workers had staged their demonstration peacefully, without causing any chaos.
"So there was no need to arrest anyone or file cases," he 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.
Jute mills workers Demra, Dhaka continue protest on April 3, 2019 |Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneFuelled by the workers' frustration with Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC)'s failure at meeting their demands, the strike was led by Md Murad Hossain, assistant general secretary of the combined central committee of three workers' bodies — the Jute Mill Workers’ League, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and the non-CBA Oikya Parishad.
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.
