Shawdesh Desk: Hundreds of jute mill workers fell sick with cold-related diseases till Wednesday morning as they continued their fast-unto-death for the fourth day.

The workers of 12 state-owned mills in five districts continued their demonestration for their 11-point demands, including a wage board for them, increased wage and payment of the dues.

At least 15 workers needed to be hospitalised in Khulna, Narsingdi and Rajshahi and many others needed intravenous saline.
The workers—under the banner of CBA-Non-CBA Sangram Parishad—resumed their strike on Sunday as the government did not meet their demands despite repeated pledges to do so by December 26.

This is the fourth time in 2019 the workers are on hunger strike to press home their demands.

Their demands include implementation of the National Wage and Productivity Commission Award 2015, payment of unpaid wages, adequate budgetary allocation for the jute sector and buying jute on season, payment of the outstanding provident fund and gratuity to retired workers, and settlement of insurance benefits to the families of the deceased workers.

During the hunger strike between December 10 and December 14, Platinum Jubilee Jute Mill worker Abdus Sattar, 55, died in Khulna and over 1,000 workers fell sick at their agitation grounds across the country.