The mills are Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills, Crescent Jute Mills, Star Jute Mills and Peoples Jute Mills.

Lay-off of the four jute mills was withdrawn early this month and sacking sections were reopened.

Workers alleged that the mill authorities gave them weekly wage slips at the rate of Tk 80 instead of Tk 160 per day, allegedly violating service rules. They refused to accept the wages slips, blaming the mill's general manager for creating deadlock again after partial withdrawal of the lay-off.

The mill was laid off on April 19 along with three others in the face of agitation by workers in demand of payment of arrear wages.

The four-day violent agitation left one worker dead and over 100 injured in clashes with police.

The lay-off was partially withdrawn on May 28 and production only in sacking section was resumed. A total of 479 workers joined work on 'no work no pay basis.

CBA leaders said the less payment was a new ploy to sack workers on any pretext.

Talking to this correspondent yesterday, BJMC Zonal Coordinator Shamim Ahmed said he sees 'no future of the state-run jute mills in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt'.

"I do not want to bluff workers to increase their displeasure any more. Because, there is no indication from any quarter in the government about further allocation of funds to run the eight state-owned jute mills properly to restore them as profitable concerns", Shamim said.

The future of jute mills in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt is uncertain as BJMC can not shoulder the huge bank liabilities of over Tk 500 crore, he said.

"No mill has ability to repay the huge bank loan and pay arrear wages of workers. No one now wants to supply raw materials on credit as their outstanding bills are yet to be paid even partly due to fund crisis", said Shamim, also general manager of Crescent Jute Mills.

He said workers are reluctant to work in the sacking section of the four laid off jute mills without payment of arrear wages and lay-off benefits.

"Besides, we are not in a position even to pay their daily wages in full for working in the sacking section", he said.

Shamim said the BJMC chairman is likely to take up jute mills issue with the Chief Adviser of caretaker government to devise ways to resolve the crisis.