Highlights:
Workers of Jalil Textile Mill in Chattogram's Sitakunda have urged the government to settle the outstanding dues of 1,073 workers, employees and officials before transferring the mill's land to the Bangladesh Army for the expansion of the Bangladesh Ordnance Factory (BOF).
In a statement issued today (5 July), the Jalil Textile Mills Workers' Union called on the government to suspend any move to transfer the mill's 54.99 acres of land or other assets until all legal dues are paid.
The demand follows reports that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given in-principle approval to transfer the land to the Bangladesh Army at a symbolic price for the BOF expansion.
The union said the reports made no mention of clearing workers' long-pending dues, raising concerns among former employees.
According to the union, an independent audit conducted by chartered accounting firm Shafiq Basak & Co, under a government decision, determined that Tk20.57 crore remained payable to the mill's 1,073 workers, employees and officials as of 30 June 2012. A high-level committee formed by the Ministry of Textiles and Jute later reviewed the audit and upheld the same amount.
The union also said that under a tripartite agreement reached through the Department of Labour, workers are entitled to lay-off benefits until their outstanding dues are fully paid.
It further noted that all legal challenges filed by the mill's former owners against the government's reacquisition of the factory have already been disposed of by the High Court and the Appellate Division, removing any legal obstacle to settling the workers' claims.
"Despite this, neither the Ministry of Textiles and Jute nor the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) has taken effective steps to pay the workers' legitimate dues," the statement said.
The union alleged that more than 375 workers and employees have died while waiting for their payments, blaming prolonged financial hardship, inadequate medical treatment and poor nutrition. It said many surviving workers and the families of deceased workers are now living in severe financial distress.
The workers' leaders warned that transferring the mill's land without first settling the outstanding dues would amount to a grave injustice. They also called for an urgent meeting involving the Prime Minister, relevant ministries, BTMC and workers' representatives to resolve the issue.
The union warned of broader democratic protest programmes if their demands remain unmet.
Jalil Textile Mill has remained closed since 2004, with its former workers awaiting the settlement of their dues for more than two decades.
Jalil Textile / Bangladesh Army
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