Khunla:  Alim Jute Mills employees on Wednesday blocked the Khulna-Jessore Highway in Khulna protesting the authorities’ move to hand over the ownership of the public sector entity to the private sector, reports local news media.

The protesters also demanded immediate payment of their arrear wages and urged the authorities to reopen the factory as early as possible.

Adbus Salam Jamaddar, president of an association of the labourers of the mills, said the protesters staged a seat-in on the Khulna-Jessore Highway at about 9:00am, which will continue till 2:00pm.

However, terrible traffic congestion has already been created on the highway, one of the country’s biggest, which is feared to lead to a long tailback.

The government decided to hand over the ownership of the factory to private sector three months back.