Earlier, over 300 workers of Star Jute Mills and 130 of Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills joined duty in sacking sections on June 11 and June 14 respectively.

Peoples Jute Mills is now the lone laid- off state owned mill where workers are jet to join duty.

According to source at BJMC zonal office, there are 1587 workers in sacking sections in Star, Crescent and Platinum jute mills. Of them, 842 joined duty.

The total number of workers in all sections of these jute mills is about 14,000.

The four out of eight state-owned jute mills were laid off on April 19 in the face of agitation for payment of arrear wages, allocation of funds for buying raw materials and removal of corrupt officials.

The lay-off was however withdrawn on May 28 and only workers in sacking sections were asked to report for duty.

But workers declined to join work until the authorities assure payment of arrear wages and benefits for lay-off period.

To put pressure on management, workers of the jute mills threatened another spate of agitation.

In reply, BJMC authorities termianted 1379 permanent workers of four laid-off jute mills. The termination of 1379 permanent workers compelled workers to join duty, BJMC officials said yesterday.

Shamim Ahmed, BJMC zonal coordinator and general manager of Crescent Jute Mills while hailing workers' decision to join duty told this correspondent that he would spare no pains to get necessary funds from government to reopen all other sections of laid-off mills.

"Their arrear wages and lay-off benefits will also be paid. I have asked medical officers of the mills to provide medicines to sick workers and ensure their treatment", Shamim said.

"A group of CBA leaders trying to fish in troubled water captalising on the present deadlock in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt", he said.