Workers demonstrate for reopening Rajshahi Jute Mills under state management
Workers claimed 57 officers and 150 staff members of Rajshahi Jute Mill are getting salaries without working while 1,700 workers are unemployed
Jute workers staged demonstrations on Sunday (7 April) demanding the reopening of Rajshahi Jute Mills under state management.
A procession of hundreds of workers began at 10am in front of the jute mill and ended at the Katakhali Bazar area, followed by a sit-in. It was organised by the Rajshahi Jute Mills Workers' Union.
Founded in 1955 in the Katakhali area of Poba upazila, the mill was operated under state management.
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In 2020, the government decided to lease out 25 jute mills, including the one in Rajshahi, to private management, with a promise that production would resume within three months after modernisation.
However, four years have passed, and the jute mill remains closed, leaving about 1,700 workers without jobs.
"The government has not fulfilled its agreement with us in 2020. The then textiles and jute minister Golam Dastagir Gazi left the workers of 25 jute mills unemployed by shutting down the mills," said Forman Ali, former treasurer of the workers' union, at the rally.
"The current textiles and jute minister is worker-friendly. We hope he will restart the jute mill," he added.
Shameem Hossain, general secretary of the workers' union, said officials and staff of the mill currently receive salaries without working, while workers suffer unemployment and deprivation.
Shameem said many workers have died without getting medical treatment. "This cannot continue. We want to earn our wages through hard work," he added.
Jillur Rahman, president of the union, said authorities had not paid dues to many jute mill workers. "While 1,700 workers are unemployed, 57 officers and 150 staff members receive salaries without working. They [officers and staff members] come once a month, sign the attendance register, and leave with their salaries," he added.
Calling on Rajshahi's public representatives to spearhead efforts to revive the mill, he said, "If the jute mill is not reopened under state management promptly, we will unite with the workers of 25 other jute mills with a bigger action plan, which may include a hunger strike.
