They will also enforce a six-hour dawn to midday blockade of highways, railways and river routes on the same day.

The Council leaders announced the agitation programme at a press conference at their temporary office at Sonargaon road in the city yesterday.

Addressing the press conference, the leaders alleged that the new labour bill passed in the parliament reflected only the interests of the owners.

Terming the bill as 'black bill', they said its implementation will intensify the workers' movement across the country and the government will have to bear all the responsibilities if any untoward incidents occur.

Ray Romesh Chandra, general secretary of the Council, said the new bill is completely against the interests of the workers. It violates different regulations of International Labour Organisation (ILO), which Bangladesh ratified in 1972, he added.

Ramesh also said, "If the bill is implemented, at least 50 thousand workers will be dismissed from jobs, as the retirement age has been fixed at 57 years".

There is no provision of provident fund, gratuity or insurance in the bill, he alleged.

Shahjahan Khan MP, vice president of the Council, said according to the new bill the workers have to work 10 hours a day whereas earlier, the workers used to work extra hours only if they wished to do but now they have to work extra two hours as compulsory overtime.

Council leader Badruddoza Nizam said many owners have garment factories in Vietnam where they pay $55 per month to the workers. But here they hesitate to pay a decent wage, he added.

The council leaders demanded due wages, Eid bonus and overtime bill of the workers before the Eid-ul-Fitr.

They urged the president not to sign in the new bill.

They will submit a memorandum to the president in this regard, they added.