These are immediate removal of BJMC Zonal Coordinator Shamim Ahmed and payment of benefits for the lay-off period.

Shamim Ahmed is also general manager of state-owned Crescent Jute Mills.

Meanwhile, another worker of Star Jute Mill died at yesterday while under treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital. He was identified as Abul Hossain, 55, a permanent worker at the mechanical section of the mill.

His wife Ayatunnesa claimed that her husband died of peptic ulcer." "I could not provide medical treatment to my husband due to want of money as mill authorities did not pay his arrear wages for 14 weeks despite appeals in writing", she said.

With Abul Hossain, three jute mill workers so far died in two weeks. Two others died earlier. They are Abdul Kalam of Platinum Jute Mills and Sirajul Islam of Peoples Jute Mills.

Workers of Crescent Jute Mill and Pjubilee Jute Mill have demanded removal of BJMC Zonal Coordinator Shamim Ahmed, accusing him of creating a 'crisis' in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt. "In fact, he gave only lip service instead of taking any positive move to resolve the crisis", said convenor of Khulna regional committee of Patkal Sangram Pparishad (PSP) Sarder Motaharuddin.

The decision to demand removal of Shamim Ahmed was taken by PSP at a meting held on Wednesday night on the compound of Crescent Jute Mills, sources said.

"I do not mind that workers have demanded my removal. I have nothing to do in payment of arrear wages of workers amounting to several crores of taka", said Shamim.

Shamim said that he just carried out orders and instructions of his top boss to deal with the crisis in the industrial belt. "How can I pay arrear wages if finds are not allocated by the government?" he said.