Workers block Khulna-Jashore highway over raw jute export restrictions, vandalise BJA building

Hundreds of jute mill workers blocked the Khulna-Jashore highway in Daulatpur today (19 May), protesting restrictions on raw jute exports that they say have effectively shut down dozens of jute presses and left more than 1,00,000 workers unemployed nationwide.

Meanwhile, agitated protesters also vandalised the building of the Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA).

The demonstration, organised under the banner of the Daulatpur Jute Press and Baling Workers Union, continued from 10:30am to 12pm.

Workers said conditions imposed by the Ministry of Commerce on 8 September 2025 had effectively halted raw jute exports, forcing around 40 jute presses across the country, including 25 in Khulna, to suspend operations.

They alleged that salaries and allowances have remained unpaid for months, leaving workers and their families in severe financial hardship.

“We are passing our days in extreme suffering with our families. If the ban on raw jute exports is not withdrawn immediately and outstanding wages are not paid, we will announce tougher movement programmes,” one of the labour leaders said.

According to witnesses, during the protest, workers besiege the BJA building in Daulatpur while a press conference was underway inside. At one stage, agitated protesters vandalised windows and furniture in the building.

The situation later came under control following the intervention of police and labour leaders.

Speaking at the press conference, BJA Chairman Khandaker Alamgir Kabir said exports had sharply declined due to the conditions imposed on raw jute exports despite adequate domestic production and stock.

“Usually, Bangladesh exports eight to 10 lakh bales of raw jute every year and earns between Tk1,500 crore and Tk2,000 crore in foreign currency. But until May of the current fiscal year, only 86,367 bales were exported, generating just Tk147.34 crore,” he said.

He added that foreign buyers were shifting to alternative markets because of the export restrictions, harming traders, farmers and workers alike.

“If exports are not resumed quickly, the country’s traditional jute industry will face destruction and thousands of workers will become permanently unemployed,” he warned.

The BJA demanded the withdrawal of conditions imposed on raw jute exports and the removal of raw jute from the list of conditional export items in Appendix-2 of the Export Policy 2024-2027.

To press home the demand, the organisation announced a series of human chains and protest programmes at the BJA building, Daulatpur, and its Khulna office premises from 20 May.