Jute mill workers block road, protest demanding arrears and allowances

More than a hundred workers of Malek Jute Mill in Kanchpur of Narayanganj's Sonargaon upazila took position on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway today to protest, demanding their unpaid salaries and allowances. Today, Tuesday, upon receiving news of the jute mill workers' agitation, a team from Kanchpur Highway Police Station arrived at the scene and assured the workers that their arrears would be paid, bringing the situation under control. Later, traffic movement returned to normal.

The agitated workers of Malek Jute Mill said that the owning authority is not paying our due salaries and allowances properly. At every turn, they are laying off workers without notice and threatening to shut down the mill using hired thugs. The workers have been forced to blockade the Dhaka-Chittagong highway to achieve their legitimate rights. Our unpaid salaries and allowances must be paid promptly. Otherwise, stricter programmes will be announced. Maksudur Rahman, deputy general manager of Malek Jute Mill, said that a promise has been made to pay the workers' arrears and allowances within a very short time. For this reason, they have withdrawn their agitation.

Kazi Wahid Morshed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kanchpur Highway Police Station, said that after talking with the owner's side of Malek Jute Mill and assuring the workers regarding the payment of salaries and allowances, the workers lifted their blockade from the highway. Later, traffic movement became normal.