Syed Shemul Parvez :
At least 50 people including five policemen were injured in separate clashes during the last day protest of the state-own jute mill workers for their nine-point demands on Thursday.
They torched rail compartments and vandalised police station during the clashes with police men in Khulna and Narsingdi districts.
The workers did not get so far any assurance from government that their demands would be met though their 72-hour ultimatum ended on Thursday.
The jute workers took to the streets in different parts of the country and hundreds took part in the protests since the morning.
In Khulna, the agitating workers took positions on several places including Natun Rasta, Shonadanga Bus Stand and Atra industrial area around 6 am, blocking traffic movement on Khulna-Jashore road.
At one stage, police asked the protesting jute mill workers to leave Natun Rasta position by 9:30 am. They continued their protest.
At one stage police charged batons to disperse them, triggering a chase and counter chase that left 12 people including four policemen injured, said Kazi Mushtaq Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Daulatpur Police Station.
Manik Chandra Sarkar, station master of Khulna Railway Station, said, “No train left the city nor arrived here since 6 am Thursday.”
No long route buses left from the district.
In Narsingdi, at least 50 people were injured as the protesting workers hurled stones to the passengers of Chattogram-bound ‘Karnaphuli Express’ train at Tarua in Sadar upazila.
Earlier in the day, the jute mill workers led by Shafiqul Hossain Mollah, president of Narsingdi UMC Jute Mill Workers Union, took position on the rail tracks at Tarua in Sadar upazila and burned tyres around 8 am, said Shaha Alam, in-charge of GRP Railways Police camp.
At one stage, the Chattogram-bound ‘Karnaphuli Express’ train tried to cross the area but failed due to burning of tyres.
Later, the workers pelted stones towards the passengers, leaving 20 passengers injured.
Of the injured, two were taken to Narsingdi General Hopital for treatment.
On information, GRP police went to the spot and brought the situation under control. Train communication between Dhaka and Chattogram remained suspended for four hours following the strike.
The jute mill workers started their 72-hour strike on the salary by blocking roads and rail routes from 8am-12pm to press home their nine-point demand.
Production at nine jute mills in the region remain suspended from Tuesday following the strike.
The workers resumed protests from March 31 as their demands were not fulfilled.
