With them, the number of retrenched workers who got arrear wages stood at 3,344 since August 7.

However, the publicity secretary of Khulna regional unit of Patkal Sangram Parishad (PSP), Abdur Rahman alleged that workers are being harassed in encashment of their cheques at the Khalishpur branch of Rupali Bank.

He alleged further the manager of Khalishpur branch of Rupali Bank is delaying payment of workers in various pretexts.

However, he refuted the allegation saying the workers should not be impatient in getting money from a bank after depositing the cheques. A bank is not a jute mill to be cowed down by threat, he said.

The project Director of the closed jute mill said payment of arrear salaries of the officials and employees will begin on Thursday. But there is no possibility of payment to suppliers of raw jute and spare parts against their outstanding bills as fund is yet to be allocated for the purpose, he said.

The closed jute mill is yet to pay Tk 8 crore to raw jute and spare parts suppliers.