Jute mill strike: 4 policemen injured in clash with protesters

Workers from nine state-owned jute mills in Khulna-Jashore region have clashed with the police on the third day of the blockade as their demand for implementation of wage commission recommendations has not been met.

The agitated workers demonstrated by blocking the Kabir Battala Road like the preceding days. No train was able to travel to Khulna until 12pm because of the blockade.

Protesters threw stones and vandalised a police box in Natun Rasta during the demonstration when rumours spread out about a jute mill worker being detained there, said Daulatpur Police Station OC Kazi Mushtaq Ahmed.

Traffic Inspector Abul Bashar, police constables Ratul, Monir and Raihan were injured in the incident and they were admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital, said the OC.

Passengers have suffered since no train had departed from the Khulna train station since morning in the face of obstruction by the workers.

Benapole-bound Commuter, Dhaka-bound Chitra Express, Rajshahi-bound Mahananda Express and Syedpur-bound Rupsa Express could not set off due to the blockade, said Khulna Station Master Manik Chandra Sarker.

Break is being observed in the jute mills from 6am on Thursday, which is the last day of the 72-hour programmer.

Jute Mill Workers League, the Collective Bargaining Agreement, or CBA, and the non-CBA Association have called the strike to press home their nine-point demand, including the implementation of the wage commission’s recommendations.