Khulna jute mill workers continue strike, more than a hundred fall sick

More than a hundred workers of state-owned jute mills in Khulna have become sick on Thursday due to the ongoing hunger strike called to press home their 11-point demand.

"The workers got sick due to hunger and cold. Around 26 of them have been admitted to different local hospitals including Khulna Medical College Hospital," said Khalilur Rahman, joint convener of State Owned Jute Mill CBA and Non-CBA Sangram Parishad.

The rest are being treated with saline at the place of the strike, he added.

The protesting workers are from – Crescent Jute Mill, Khalishpur Jute Mill, Doulotpur Jute Mill, Plantinam Jubilee Jute Mill, Star Jute Mill, Alim Jute Mill, Eastern Jute Mill, Carpeting Jute Mill and JJI Jute Mill.

Khalilur Rahman said that a meeting of workers' leaders with State Minister for Labour and Employment, Begum Monnujan Sufian, was held at her residence on Wednesday night where the state minister urged the protesting workers to postpone their strike till December 15.

A meeting is scheduled to be held among the protesters, the Jute Minister and the state minister at the Jute Ministry on December 15, said the leaders. 

However, the leaders said they will continue their strike until the implementation of wage board commission.

Meanwhile, production in the mills has stopped due to the strike. The protesting workers said they will not return home until their demands are met.

On November 17, the state-owned Jute Mill CBA-Non-CBA Sangram Parishad called for a six-day program to press home their 11-point demand.

The program began on November 25.