BCIC fertiliser dealers worried
Labourers of buffer godown in Lalmonirhat refuse to load fertiliser since July 1 as they are not getting fair wages
All enlisted 52 fertiliser dealers under Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) are worried as they are not getting urea fertiliser delivery from buffer godown in Mahendranagar of Sadar upazila since July 1.
Fifty-five enlisted labourers of the godown refused to load fertiliser as they are not getting fair wages.
They will not join their work until their demand is met, said Maminul Islam Babu, president of Load-Unload Labourers' Association at Mahendranagar buffer godown.
Newly-selected labourer handling contractor Rubel Islam from Bogra wanted to pay Tk 18 against loading one tonne of fertiliser but they refused to accept it, said Maminul.
They want Tk 50 for loading one tonne of fertiliser, he said, adding that they will not join their work until the matter is resolved.
The government rate is satisfactory but contractors got the work order at less rate and due to this, they have to suffer, said another labourer Nur Islam.
“It will be better if the government handles us directly without selecting contractor,” he said.
Abdul Hakim, president of Fertiliser Dealers' Association in Lalmonirhat, said they are incurring loss due to the situation.
They are not getting any delivery of urea fertiliser as labourers refrain from unloading, he said, adding that due to the situation, no urea fertiliser is available at their warehouses.
They have already informed the higher authorities of BCIC and the district administration but to no avail, said Hakim.
BCIC Executive Engineer Hanif Miah, also in-charge of Mahendranagar buffer godown, said as newly selected labourer handling contractor Rubel has failed to carry out his job, the engineer cannot give assurance about joining of any labourer in conducting loading-unloading activities at the godown.
They have informed the higher authority about the matter and he hopes that the BCIC management will take necessary step in this regard as soon as possible, the engineer said, adding that there are 21,000 tonnes of urea fertilisers in the godown.