Khulna: The indefinite strike, enforced by seven state-owned jute mills in the district to press home their five-point demand, entered the second day on Tuesday, reports UNB.

The workers of the mills took position at Natun Rasta intersection, Rail Gate, Atra and Shiromoni areas of the city around 6am and blocked Khulna-Jessore highway and Khulna-Jessore rail route, said Sohrab Hossain, convener of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and non-CBA Oikya Parishad.

The blockade halted vehicular movement on the highway and train service on the rail route, causing immense sufferings to passengers.

The CBA and non-CBA Oikya Parishad of the seven jute mills—Crescent Jute Mills, Platinum Jute Mills, Khalispur Jute Mills, Star Jute Mills, Eastern Jute Mills, Jessore Jute Mills and Carpeting Jute Mills—enforced the strike on Monday morning.

The CBA leaders threatened to continue their road blockade programme from 6:00am to 2:00pm till 7 April.

The demands of the workers include adequate allocation for the jute industry, payment of their arrears, formation of a wage board and stopping the move to privatise the state-owned jute mills.

Earlier on 16 March, they had given the government until 3 April  to meet their demands.