Dhaka: Amid a non-stop strike by workers of seven state-owned jute mills in Khulna, the government on Monday has made an allocation of Tk 1,000 crore for clearing some dues of the workers.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Mirza Azam made the announcement while talking to reporters at the ministry.

‘The arrears of workers will be cleared before Pahela Baishakh,’ said the minister.

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—started the strike on 4 April, reported UNB.

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 an April 3 deadline to meet their demands.