State Minister for Labor and Employment Begum Mannujan Sufian said state-owned jute mills have not been closed permanently. Only temporary production has been stopped. The mills will be brought back into production as soon as possible. She urged everyone not to be distracted by anyone's provocation.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a virtual exchange meeting on Monday (October 5) on the overall situation of state-owned jute mills in the Khulna region, which is temporarily closed now.
The state minister said the government must keep the state-owned jute mills open to bring back the tradition of ‘golden fiber’, taking into account the condition jute farmers and maintaining balance in the business sector. Jute mills will be turned into profitable enterprises by installing state-of-the-art equipment in GTZ, PPP or leasing management. If the mills are opened, skilled workers will get jobs there on priority basis.
He asserted that the people were not deceived by trusting Bangabandhu in 1971 similarly the people would not be deceived by his worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She urged the local administration and workers to be vigilant so that no one could take the machinery out of the mills during the closure.
The state minister said the workers of Karim Jute Mill were paid their dues half by check and half by savings certificates. In a few days, the workers of Khulna Platinum Jute Mill will be paid their dues.
Speaking as the special guest on the occasion, Khulna City Corporation Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleq said to the workers, the government is by your side, be patient. No worker will be affected, but will benefit from this initiative of the government for the welfare of the workers. The dues of more than one jute mill workers will be paid within this month.
Chaired by Director of the Khulna Divisional Office of the Department of Labor Mizanur Rahman, among others, Additional Deputy Commissioner Yusuf Ali, Deputy Inspector General of the Department of Factory and Institutional Inspection Ariful Islam, Khalishpur Thana Awami League President AKM Sanaullah Nannu, CBA leaders of 9 jute mills in Khulna region participated in the exchange of views.