Sun 22 Apr 2007
While all busy w/ fate of autocrats Khaleda-Hasina (now become “heroes”), real issues are elsewhere. In Khalishpur, Khulna, Jute workers strike in demand of 6 koti taka of wages. Where are politicians? They don’t care about working class, and never have.
“I’ll commit suicide if the government doesn’t pay my dues. The government should pay or kill us,” -jute mill worker Delwar Hossain
Khulna, April 20 (bdnews24.com)
Thousands of Khulna workers stare into bleak days ahead.
Delwar is among 21,000 workers of four state-owned jute mills in Khulna, laid off by Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation after they protested for two days for arrears.
According to an order, the BJMC said Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills will remain shut for 45 days and Crescent Jute Mills, People’s Jute Mills and Star Jute Mills will be without output for 21 days.
Delwar worked for People’s Jute Mills in Khalishpur.
“For four and a half months I didn’t get salary. I have borrowed two kilos of rice from a relative. Children are crying for food. How can I feed them? I can’t even look at them,” said Mokhlesur Rahman, a father of five.
Two daughters of Humayun Kabir, a mill worker, signed up for HSC exams only three weeks away. Humayun said he could not even buy a pen for them.
Mohammad Anwar lives in the Platinum Sramik Karmachari residential area. He did not get anything other than green chillies and rice to feed his family.
Majid, Dulal, Abdullah and Abul Kalam of Crescent Jute Mills have similar stories.
They wanted to know what wrong they did by protesting for their salaries unpaid for over four months.
“Our demand is not unjust. Why doesn’t the government take care of us?” Majid said.
Trade union leader Sardar Motahar Uddin said: “Our demand is logical. We are surprised by the government’s decision to shut the mills instead of paying arrears.”
Motahar said many headed home to their villages with almost nothing to live by.
Some workers took out a procession Friday, demanding the arrears.
But no BJMC official could be contacted for comment.
bdnews24.com/corr/my/ad/2257 hours
April 22nd, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Undoubtedly this is a justified demand- and Govt. should take immediate steps to pay their money back.
Some may disagree with the part that the politicians should get involve here now. After all, it’s an emergency time.
But perhaps, real leaders would not care for emergency restrictions to move for people’s rights. We have seen amost the similar silence from them when the poors had lost their cheap housings.
I guess the question is, how long do we have to see the faces of these coward politicians who never fear to send their supporters to die fighting for their party sake.
And what’s wrong with this army backed interim government? Since the beginning they are not showing any mercy to the poor people and now they are ignoring their righteous demands.
April 22nd, 2007 at 3:50 pm
1 comment about Jute workers, and 33 on Khaleda’s “deportation” (and no doubt 55 by the time I hit “refresh”. That says it all on where people’s priorities are. Wake up!
April 22nd, 2007 at 4:21 pm
I can not agree more, Parvez. Funny, most of us care a lot more about freedom of speech and so called ‘democracy’ than the five basic human rights that our most country-men are deprived of.
For us, existence of Hasina, Khaleda in Bangladesh is more important than the priceless lives of ordinary people in bangladesh! I wonder if these parties and the leaders would price this passion a penny!
April 22nd, 2007 at 4:28 pm
The workers demand are very reasonable. They have worked and have not got paid and are on the verge of starvation.
Urgent action is needed.
April 22nd, 2007 at 5:01 pm
I predict that within 10 minutes somebody will post an item on Hasina being denied access to British Airways flight, pushing this off the top.
That’s where our priorities are. 15 years of Khaleda-Hasina and we still didn’t get enough.
April 22nd, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Please get the atttention of Human right watch group of the world to Khula people so the basic human rights of food,shelter can be taken care off.
As we are good in crying and kissing feet of the International brokers and lords why not in this one.
thanks
Kawser Jamal
I salute you all the gatekeeper of Human rights and democracy loving people of the world.
Thanks
Kawser Jamal
Can anybody like “No Name” request everyone here to right to the international bosses of UK and USA?
Bangladeshi people are just a joke nothing else.
April 22nd, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Dear all,
Have you seen this news: ‘police filed a case against 2,500 jute mill workers Sunday for recent ‘violence’ in the district’s Khalishpur industrial zone’ (bdnews)
Here’s a famous quote from Shakespeare’s King Lear- “here’s a night pities neither wise man nor fool”.
Here is an undemocratic government that pities neigher ex-PMs nor poor workers. Here’s a dictatorial force that will ensure justice for neither him nor her. Neither you and nor me.
Please raise your voice regarding the incidents of human rights violation in Bangladesh.
April 22nd, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Parvez,#5,
I have been waiting for the last 2 hours to see if your prediction come true. Nobody sent a post regarding Hasina-Khaleda!
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:23 pm
true theres more currency in following SHW making a fool of herself in London. But it defeats me to imagine what edge would the ritually righteously indignant have over the jute issue.
A citizen might want to address the underlying issues not cheap tabloid jerked tears.
Develop new markets for jute then… with your capital and business skill. Endow the Jute research centre outside the parliament with funds to really make some moves. Nurture a generation of union leaders with some brains and ability…
oops
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Good.
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Just wanted to point out a potential golden opprotunity for Bangladesh to revive the golden days of Jute. Though I am not an expert in this sector.
With the ever increasing focus on fighting the enviormental disaster, Jute may prove to be a good substitute for other harmful products. The exprts should work out the strategy and unearth the potential, if any.
My commisseration for the deprived workers. If Dr. Faruddin has the habit like some of the world leaders who read newspaper, this story should draw his attention. I read one interview where he said that he reads. Taking cue from such reading, he apparently took measure to stop eviction drive of poors without rehabilitation opportunities. If any due, it should be paid in total.
Thanks
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:44 pm
parvez, I am really surprised and disappointed that you would censor my previous comment. Although it is your blog and you have the right to censor comments, I am disappointed that you would do so simply because I pointed out your own bias and presumption in comment #2.
April 22nd, 2007 at 11:03 pm
Police continues their atrocities:
http://www.shamokal.com/details.php?nid=58819
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:52 am
Mash, I didn’t censor your comment.
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:28 am
bdnews reports police have now filed cases against 2,500 workers.
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:32 am
New Age Editorial:
Editorial
Repression on jute mill workers
Tension between the law enforcers and the workers of state-owned jute mills at the Khalishpur industrial belt in Khulna reached a new high on Saturday with at least 100 injured, as the state resorted to repression and brute force in its reaction to the rightful demands of the workers. There were rumours of a worker’s death from police firing, which the police denied, according to a report in New Age published on Sunday. This was not the first instance of clashes between the workers and the law enforcers. About 22,000 workers of four jute mills launched a spontaneous movement demanding settlement of their arrears and due wages which have been pending for at least five months, in case of regular staff, and 17 weeks for daily labourers. At least 100 more have been injured during clashes since April 17 when the movement began. But on Saturday the clashes were particularly violent, when the police was rumoured to have shot live rounds besides some 50 rounds of rubber bullets and 100 rounds of teargas shells. The police also injured about 20 school students when they charged batons on their procession.
The only conciliatory step, presumably to avoid the clashes temporarily, in this case has been shutting down the mills for up to a month and a half by the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation on Thursday. It has evidently had no effect on the movement since the workers have become quite desperate to ensure that their demands are met. While it must be recognised that the workers’ demands are legitimate and one should not have to take to the streets for wages, let alone be brutalised, it must also be acknowledged that the outstanding dues cannot be paid overnight. It is evident that the relevant authorities have let the situation worsen and reach the current state, while the military-backed interim government’s steps, if any, have failed to placate the workers. Its recent decision to privatise public-sector factories and enterprises, which will certainly affect the jute sector, would not have pleased the thousands of workers there either.
We believe that the authorities should immediately suspend its repressive measures and negotiate a settlement with the workers’ representatives — the collective bargaining agents — with assurances of expeditious payment of all dues. We point out that the state of emergency currently in force must be flexible in such circumstances in the interest of greater public welfare. Furthermore, the military-backed regime should reconsider its earlier position, taken undoubtedly in line with the prescriptions of the lending agencies, to substantially shrink the public sector. Instead, it should exert further efforts in ridding the public sector of its inherent corruption and increase its efficiency, particularly in the jute sector.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:29 am
Wow, all this in my hometown! I don’t see how closing a factory for a month and a half is going to solve the problems of workers who have no money to live on…or those of the jute mills (do they not need to produce during this time)? This move by the government does not seem likely to cool things down. If anything, I doubt I’d be surprised if the situation got worse. Strange that it was so easy for the jute mills to just lay off all those people. There doesn’t seem to be much concern about who will work in their stead. Who exactly filed the case against the workers with the police, and was there a case filed against the jute mills? Why are no immediate steps being taken to start negotiations on an acceptable means of paying dues? It is important for a government to be held accountable for these things. Any ideas on what those of us living abroad can do?
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:10 am
When we think of political violence in recent Bangladesh we think of the events of late October or November during the Hasan-Aziz andolon. But there had been many spontaneous uprisings/violent eruptions across the country during the later years of BNP+JI rule. Many of the reasons for these eruptions are still present. Think of the electricity issue for example. As the country heads into what might be the hottest summer in recent years, it’s very likely that there will be massive power shortages. And it’s quite possible that there will be Kansat or Shonir Akhra like local uprisings for power or water. How the regime deals with such a situation will determine whether it achieves its objectives (whatever those objectives might be - much has been written on this in the past few days).
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:55 am
how a factory was allowed to run up 45 crores in outstanding wages boggles my mind. they were probably hoping for a govt bail out package that never came, rather than do something sensible, like re-strategising their production with the needs of the market. i dont have much faith in the management that allowed this to happen in the first place. i doubt they will know what do to, other than to ask for police action. the trade unionists cant negotiate right now, since they are banned under the state of emergency laws. so all that is left is for shady deals to be struck between the factory management and the local gundas who will pacify the jobless hungry workers. the 6 crore in promised salaries wont materialise either. hae re bangali.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Bangladesh - more clashes at jute mills - party leaders to be exiled?
http://libcom.org/news/bangladesh-more-clashes-jute-mills-party-leaders-be-exiled-23042007
April 25th, 2007 at 2:52 am
Parvez, I apologize for my assumption. I was puzzled when the comment disappeared and should not have jumped to the conclusion that it was deliberately deleted.
April 25th, 2007 at 11:06 am
I think it is sick that people should look forward to manufacturing another Kansat and greater disturbance over this.
regressive unionism and opportunistic power play with unfortunate economic failures by the awami league consistently throw dust in the air. Credibility and dignity dont seem to be on the morality radars.
I hope the CTG government experiments with ways of promoting disipline in Bangladesh without beating deshis with sticks.
Can we afford compulsory military/govt service? It would fix the ‘Oh i have no skills, let me create some trouble’ problem.
April 25th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
The finance ministry has released Tk 24 crore for paying the arrears of the workers of four public sector jute mills in Khulna industrial area that were closed temporarily.
The four jute mills are Platinum, People’s, Crescent and Star Jute Mills.
The cheques for the money would reach Khulna Wednesday.
Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation has said the payment of the dues may start from Thursday.
The mills were temporarily shut down last Thursday triggering violent protest from the laid-off workers.
The BJMC officials will have a meeting with Khulna deputy commissioner SM Firoz Alam to decide when and how the dues will be paid.
BJMC Khulna regional coordinator Sheikh Shamim Ahmed Tuesday told the media that a faxed message from the BJMC headquarters said the arrears of workers of eight state-owned jute mills in Khulna area stood at about Tk 72 crore.
The finance ministry has released a third of the amount.
Ahmed said the work of paying dues might start from Thursday.
Replying to a query he said the authorities would be asked to be careful so that police did not harass the workers who would come to receive their dues, as there are cases against some of them.
bdnews24.com/corr/eh/ah/2306 hours
April 25th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
It is very good to hear that the workers are being attended to. Thank you, admin., for posting something that actually provided information rather than some already rinsed opinion that simply shows an inability to agree to disagree.