Bangladesh: Jute mill worker protests scheduled April 12, 14-18 /update 3

Event

Jute mill workers in Khulna division are holding a series of protests, rallies, strikes, and roadblocks on Friday, April 12, and from Sunday, April 14, to Thursday, April 18. A full protest schedule, expected to involve 92-hour and 72-hour strikes along with a series of blockades, will be announced during a labor rally in Khulna (Khulna division) on Friday. A march is already planned for Sunday and protesters are expected to block roads and railways from 08:00 to 12:00 (local time) daily from Monday, April 15, to Thursday. The workers union has previously threatened further rallies and blockades beginning on Wednesday, April 24, if demands are not met.

Further strikes, protests, roadblocks, and associated transportation disruptions are expected in Khulna division, with possible rallies in Dhaka, Chittagong, and other parts of Bangladesh in solidarity of the jute mill workers movement. A heightened security presence is also possible near any protest actions and clashes with security forces cannot be ruled out.

Context

Jute mill workers have been staging protests, strikes, and blockades in recent weeks to protest late payment of wages and calling for increased job security. Around 50,000 people participated in protests in March. Clashes between protesters and police on Thursday, April 4, left 16 people wounded.

Advice

Individuals in Khulna division, and Bangladesh more generally, are advised to monitor the situation, anticipate a heightened security presence and transportation disruptions near protest sites, allow additional time to reach their destination, and avoid all protests due to the risk of violence and arrest.