Dhaka, July 4 -- They point out that many of the new owners of privatised mills had earlier recruited workers of their own choice while some others left Bangladesh by selling the factories and land altogether.

The lives of tens of thousands of workers and their families will be at risk if they are not re-employed amid the coronavirus crisis, the leaders fear.

Some have cast doubt over the payment of dues. The government has decided to pay most of the workers half the dues in cash and the rest in savings certificates.

Besides the 25,000 workers being sent on forced retirement, the 26 state-owned jute mills have around 26,000 workers who are paid on a daily basis.

"All of us will be jobless if the mills are privatised. Because the peopl...