Nearly 2,000 workers of the state-owned Alim Jute Mills Limited yesterday formed a human chain in front of the mill gate on Khulna-Jessore highway at Atra industrial area under Khanjahan thana in the city protesting the government move to privatise the mill. Under the banner of Alim Jute Mill Privatisation Resistance Committee arranged the human chain from 10am to 11am for their ongoing movement against privatisation of the state owned jute mill.
President of the Jute Mill Workers’ Union Md Abdus Salam Jamaddar said that they will bring out protest procession at 5:30 pm on Thursday (June 11) wearing shrouds.
The agitated workers’ adding their family members wrapped up their heads with pieces of red cloth demanding immediate cancellation the move to privatise the mill.
The human chain followed by a rally at the same place disrupting transport services and creating severe traffic jam. Convener of the resistance committee Md Abdur Rashid presided over the rally.
Among others, former Jute Mill Workers’ Union president Saiful Islam Litu, former general secretary Md Hamid Sardar, member secretary of the resistance committee Md Babul Reza, treasurer of union Sheikh Md Zakaria, spoke on the occasion.
The discussants said any move to privatise the state-owned jute mill would be strongly resisted at any cost and whatever the loss. Because, nearly 2,000 permanent and casual workers will go out of jobs if the mill is privatized.
President of the Jute Mill Workers’ Union Md Abdus Salam Jamaddar said, “We are determined to resist any further move by BJMC to privatise any more state-owned jute mill on lame cause.”
He said if needed we may besiege the administrative office turning out all officials and employees from there asking them not to come back before our demand is met.